Key factors behind Durban City’s promotion race run

Despite dropping crucial points over the weekend, Durban City FC coach Simo Dladla has outlined key factors that have seen the club as one of the promotion favourites.

Durban City are currently top of the Motsepe Foundation Championship log with 11 games to go before the season ends.

But the club suffered a 2-1 loss to Baroka FC in Lebowakgomo on Saturday. The result has seen the race for promotion to the Betway Premiership getting more exciting, as the KZN side is now four points above second-placed Orbit College FC. 

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY FACTORS BEHIND MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS’ GOOD RUN

“The factor has been the players. We have quality players and experienced players,” Dladla told FARPost.

“The other factor has been the tactical discipline that we lacked today [Saturday]. I think we lacked that because when you have the team on the back foot, like we had Baroka defending deep in their half. We needed to circulate the ball better. We also needed to look after the ball, and we didn’t do that.”

SIMO DLADLA WANTS DURBAN CITY TO IMPROVE THEIR AWAY FORM

“Numbers don’t lie. We played 10 games at home, and we got 25 points. We played nine games away, and we got 12 points. That tells you the story that we don’t behave well when we are playing away games. That has to change because next week we are playing away at Hungry Lions. Something needs to change sooner rather than later.”

Meanwhile, Dladla says he hopes the defeat by Baroka FC over the weekend will serve as a lesson to his players.

“We paid the price for our mistakes because Baroka took their chances. I am very disappointed with the results, and I hope this serves as a lesson for the players not to undermine opponents or situations. Football is a game of moments; you have to be switched on from the first minute to the last minute.”

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