Zdravko Logarusic looking forward to Simba SC job

Former Gor Mahia coach Zdravko Logarusic says he is relishing the challenge of coaching Tanzanian league giants Simba SC promising to secure them a league title in the ongoing campaign.

In an interview with Nation Sport, from his Croatian base on Saturday, the former King Faisal and Ash Gold coach said that he will be flying to Dar es Salaam next week to put pen to paper on the deal. The maverick tactician however remained tight-lipped on the details of the deal preferring to dwell on the technical aspects of his new found team.

The former K’Ogalo tactician however said that he can’t wait to go and will be loving the pressure that comes with coaching the Dar es Salaam-based outfit.

“There are lots of supporters and lots of pressure which I like. Working under pressure always forces me to give my best, it is what keeps me going and makes me to work hard in training. To me every game is like a World Cup final,” he said.

The Croatian joined Gor in March 2012 at a time the recently crowned league champions were struggling to find their footing in the league and turned around the fortunes of the team, guiding them to a domestic cup and KPL Top Eight trophies only to narrowly miss out on the league on the last day of action. (READ: Logarusic was loved, hated in equal measure)

OVERHAUL

In his first three months at Gor, he instituted far reaching changes in the team’s philosophy, playing formation as well as reorganising his playing unit by releasing nine players and signing six.

His popular mantra at the time was to have players “who could think and run at the same time”.

The Croat who has been jobless since he fell out with K’Ogalo hierarchy is expected to ring in far reaching changes at the Msimbazi Street boys and has fired a warning to the players to brace for his reign. (READ: Coach turnover costing Kenya’s big two greatness)

“If I am giving every training 150 percentage, that means I am expecting each player to respond. I cherish professionalism and dedication and if a player will not respond then that spells trouble.”

“An interesting time is coming in Simba, they are on fourth position but I do not like to be fourth.”

Simba recently disbanded its entire technical bench sending coach Abdallah ‘King’ Kibaden and his assistant Jamhuri Kihwelo packing owing to a poor run in the league.