Loga locks out locals

23 Aug, 2020 - 00:08 0 Views
Loga locks out locals Zdravko “Loga’’ Logarusic

The Sunday Mail

Don Makanyanga Sports Reporter

WARRIORS coach Zdravko “Loga” Logarusic has temporarily shut the door on players plying their trade in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for the upcoming back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Algeria due to the prolonged inactivity of domestic football.

The Warriors — who are second behind the Desert Foxes — are likely to face the North Africans between November 9 to 17, according to the revised fixture programme released by the Confederation of African Football last week.

Loga is in his native Croatia and is expected back in the country next month.

Yesterday, the 54-year-old coach, whose schedule has been affected by Covid-19, told The Sunday Mail Sport from Croatia that he would have no choice, but to overlook local players for selection when the Warriors reassemble.

Ironically, Loga’s first glimpse of Zimbabwean football from up close had been with the locals with whom he had in camp for two weeks ahead of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) tournament which had been scheduled for Cameroon from April 4-25.

That was before Covid-19 struck and threw into turmoil all global sport, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Zimbabwe’s Premiership season had not yet started when Covid-19 lockdowns were introduced and to date the domestic game remains in limbo with even its leadership unsure of when football may return.

It is against this background that Loga said he would now have to be forced to consider those players whose leagues are in action such as South Africa and Europe.

“It will be impossible to select players from the Zimbabwean league,’’ Loga said.

“Local players have not had proper training for close to six months, so for the November AFCON qualifier matches, we must focus on players that are in Europe, South Africa and other countries that have already resumed their football’’.

The Croat believes the only logical solution is to stick with active players, while awaiting the resumption of the local league.

ZIFA had initially hinted on the 2020 season getting underway in September, but that now is in doubt given that clubs would need at least six weeks to prepare.

The local scenario has seen some truant players resorting to unofficial money games played mostly at uncertified grounds in high-density suburbs.

“We need players that have proper match fitness, who have been playing regularly and playing official games, and as for the local players most of them have been inactive for more than six months.

“The only logical solution to this is that we do not call these players,” said Loga.

With his options narrowed only to players who are currently active, the Croat revealed that the selection of players will be strictly on merit.

“Names do not play football, players play football hence those players that are in top form, playing regularly at their clubs and have proper match fitness will be selected,” he said.

The long lay-off will jeopardise chances of players like Ian Nekati who had featured at right-back in the absence of long-term injury casualty Tendai Darikwa.

However, a ray hope remains for local players to don national colours.

With FIFA setting aside the week of October 5-13 for International friendlies and a possibility of the COSAFA Cup being held during the same month, a window of opportunity remains for locally-based players.

“For us as the technical department it will be fantastic to play a friendly match before the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers in November.

“There will be friendly matches in October. I will have to talk to the federation (ZIFA) if they can organise something and if the region manages to hold the COSAFA Cup then I will use local players in that tournament and if they perform well then they will be co-opted into the team that will face Algeria,” said Loga.

He said despite the possibility of getting an opponent for the friendly match being out of their hands due to the short space of time, he feels that in the event that ZIFA secures a sparring partner, they would go for a competitive side.

“We wait to see what the federation can do for us in the short space of time available. If it is possible that we get any opponents we would prefer to play a competitive team, but at the moment the issue of opponents is not in our hands,” Loga said.

After taking time to be with his family in Croatia, the Warriors coach believes he is ready to resume work soon after his expected return.

“I was supposed to return at the end of the month (July) but because there was nothing concrete on the way forward, we had to cancel the return ticket but now that FIFA and CAF have released the dates, I should be coming back during the first week of September,” Loga said.

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