Durban City’s Dladla targets perfect reset before tough November run

In the stillness of the international break, the usual chaos of a match week had given way to a slower, more deliberate rhythm at training. 

The noise is different now — less frantic, more intentional — the sound of a squad tightening bolts, sharpening edges and using the pause not as downtime, but as a strategic opportunity to reset before the season gathers pace again.

For Durban City assistant coach Pitso Dladla, this is no accidental breather. It is a ring-fenced window the technical team has long planned for, knowing how critical such periods can be in a long and unforgiving campaign.

“This break is something that we expected and planned for because it’s there in the calendar,” Dladla says, watching from the touchline as players rotate through tightly curated drills. 

“It provides a crucial window for two key objectives: managing the minor knocks we have, and focusing on deep tactical work to ensure we improve holistically.”

That work is helped by a subtle but meaningful momentum shift. The team’s recent win over Marumo Gallants did more than deliver three points — it pushed the club into 7th place and finally aligned performances with results, something the technical team believed was overdue.

“Our performance levels have been good, but turning them into wins was the challenge,” Dladla admits. 

“That last victory was vital. Our task now is to lock in that winning mentality and carry it forward.”

Carrying it forward will require precision. 

November’s final stretch presents two fixtures that could steer the direction of their season: a tricky KZN derby away to Richards Bay on Sunday, followed by a high-stakes home clash against Orlando Pirates on the 29th — a match that always stretches the emotional and tactical bandwidth of any squad.

“The work now is entirely about specificity,” he explains.

“We are deconstructing the specific challenges from our previous matches, and our sessions are designed to address them directly. Alongside this, we are drilling down into individual tactical development, sharpening each player’s development areas and reinforcing their strengths.”

Training sessions have shifted from broad strokes to microscopic detail: movement triggers, defensive habits, decision-making under pressure, and the fluidity needed to break down better-structured opponents. 

The staff believes these layers of detail — often unnoticed externally — are what separate good teams from consistent ones.

The players, he says, have embraced the demands with maturity.

“This period helps us reset the body and mind,” he says. “But most importantly, it helps us prepare with purpose. We want to come out of this break stronger than when we entered it.”

If the international window is about clarity, the next fortnight will test whether that clarity translates into results. With two defining fixtures looming, the reset is complete. Now comes the validation.