Logarusic was loved, hated in equal measure
What you need to know:
- Half of Gor was happy to see his back while the other still want him
Even as Gor Mahia prepare to unveil their now coach Bobby Williamson on Tuesday a section of the club’s fraternity is yet to come to terms with the unusual departure of the admired but maverick Zdravko Logarusic.
The Croat failed to return from vacation in his native country over contractual issues forcing his employers to declare his position vacant. Several fans have taken issues with how the Gor management disengaged from Logarusic.
“You don’t fire a coach mid-season and expect it to be business as usual. The management should consider bringing back Logarusic at least until the expiry of his contract as they search carefully for a suitable replacement,” said Achieng Winnie, a member of the K’Ogalo Divas Association.
Logarusic took up his new responsibility with unsurpassed zeal when he was appointed coach of the 12-time league champions mid last season. Being an authoritarian, he insisted on player discipline and went on to streamline the Gor Mahia squad by offloading players who did not shape up. Those who were hesitant to comply with his directives were fearlessly dealt with, rubbing certain individuals the wrong way.
Ruled unfit to play
Felix Nwosu, Abbey Natty, Giovanni Rodriguez were all ruled unfit to play for Gor and sent packing by Logarusic.
Logarusic went on to rule with an iron fist, releasing players he said “cannot think and run at the same time” and by the time of his departure he had constituted a lean team of 20 players.
The tactician fought for players’ rights, at one time even threatening to quit his coaching position if players were not paid their accumulated dues. “I cannot coach a starving team so the management ought to pay these players their dues so that they can play comfortably,” he had said. The players’ allowances were paid two days later.
Under his tenure, team selection was done purely on merit, and he had the last say on who was to get in and out of the pitch.
Winning became a common occurrence and he managed to salvage the team from relegation worries to league runners up.
This earned him friends and foes alike. Certain individuals felt belittled by his growing endearment to the fans but the Croats exemplary performance made him unstoppable at that time. He went on to complete a 20-game unbeaten run, bagged the FKF and Top Eight cups and missed the coveted KPL trophy by a whisker-all in one year.
But many fans were put off by his liberal social interactions well captured on the internet. Then when the team’s performance went and the victory-hungry Green Army started getting uneasy the inevitable pressure on the coach began to bear. Half of Gor was happy to see his back while the other still want him.
