While Durban City will know that they cannot count on explosive firepower to blow teams away when they step onto the pitch in Burundi for their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round return leg against Rukinzo FC, they can certainly bank on their defensive steel.
Marking the club’s first away fixture in continental inter-club competition, this high-stakes clash at Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura on Sunday (5pm kickoff) stands as arguably the biggest match in the Nedbank Cup winners’ history. Carrying a slender 1–0 aggregate lead – secured through a Rukinzo own goal in the opening leg at Moses Mabhida – the Citizens may once again need to rely on an ironclad backline.
City have managed to score more than once in a game just once this season, during a 2–0 away league victory over Kruger United, with their opening run also featuring two goalless draws.
While head coach Khalil Ben Youssef has bemoaned the lack of a cutting edge up front, he has created remarkable stability at the back. Ben Youssef has built his structure around a core defensive unit of Siyabonga Msomi, Siphamandla Ncanana, John Mokone, and Bandile Shandu, alongside Emmanuel Jalai, Liam de Kock, and the versatile Tylo Sanger.
Crucial to this foundation is primary midfield anchor and club skipper Brooklyn Poggenpoel, who does the heavy lifting in front of the defence. Poggenpoel’s high-intensity pressing, positional discipline, and tackling ability provide the vital screen that shields the back four, allowing City’s creative players to operate with confidence.
Together, this unit has yielded three consecutive clean sheets across all competitions dating back to that win over Kruger United. In fact, City have suffered just a single league defeat all season, coming in their opening fixture against Sekhukhune United.
This solid backline also boasts the insurance of Ghanaian goalkeeper Frederick Asare, who has been in inspired form. With one more shutout guaranteeing passage to the Confederation Cup second preliminary round, Asare is embracing the moment.
“The preparation this week has been very good and positive,” Asare said. “The coaches have prepared us mentally, physically, and tactically. The first-leg result created a positive impact in the camp. We were expecting to win by a bigger margin, but Rukinzo were well organized tactics-wise and difficult to penetrate.”
“To me, this historic campaign means a lot – it puts me up there to compete with top clubs in Africa,” Asare added. “It’s a big test for the club going into Burundi with a narrow win, but we are all determined and focused. I believe strongly that with our preparation, we will bring victory back to Durban.”
Ben Youssef remains realistic about the challenge ahead. Rukinzo showed dangerous counter-attacking quality in Durban, but trailing 1–0 on aggregate, the Burundian hosts will now be forced to open up and take the game to the visitors.
“It will be a difficult game,” Ben Youssef warned. “Rukinzo are a good team and we know what they can do, especially going forward. We have worked properly during the week and we are ready for the game.”
If Poggenpoel and City’s defensive stalwarts hold firm against an urgent, attack-minded Rukinzo side, one final clean sheet will write the next chapter in the club’s historic continental journey.
