LOGARUSIC FOCUSES ON POSITIVES
WARRIORS coach Zdravko “Loga” Logarusic has “pleaded” with the nation to draw positives from the CHAN tournament, despite an embarrassing outing.
The Croat, who now shifts focus to Afcon qualifiers next month, believes his CHAN troops were up to the task given the circumstances surrounding their adventure.
The players had gone for more than a year without playing competitive football while preparations were disturbed by a
Covid-19 outbreak in camp.
“We managed to bring in new players into the team with a number of players who are under 23 making their debut for the senior national team.
“That is six national team first debuts including a division one player Pawell Gowere.
“There was a change of generation players with those who have played for six to seven years in the Chan tournament paving way for the new young boys who almost performed at par against tournament favourites. It is in such developmental cases that results should not matter,” said Loga.
Loga said football stakeholders should consider the reality on the ground and see positives from the ‘worst’ squad in the tournament’s history.
“We work with reality and the reality is our preparations prior to the tournament were marred with challenges.
“The boys had few hours of training in camp after having a whole season without playing competitive football. Two of our players were linked with moves to foreign clubs. Peter Muduhwa and Farawo Matare were both linked with a move to Tanzania and Ghana respectively.
“That means our products have represented well. In course of the tournament games were lost on technicalities and lack of game fitness. That means with unity will improve for the better for there were many positives we came out with.”
Zimbabwe face Botswana and Zambia in the Afcon qualifiers next month.