Loga brushes off negatives

. . . Croat upbeat ahead of CHAN

By Ray Munyoro

Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic says they need to be optimistic ahead of next month’s CHAN finals in Cameroon despite lack of game time from his stars.
The Croat picked his final local 23-man squad to do duty for the country in Cameroon.
The players are going into the tournament without playing a competitive match for 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Local football chiefs suspended action in March this year to help curb the spread of the coronavirus resulting to the 2020 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League failing to start.
Speaking to Nhau Sport on Monday, Loga admitted they are in a difficult situation which they will have to deal with.
“I expected players to play many games from January to December and have many training sessions and it’s a difficult situation to us because we are missing all that.
“We are in a situation where we want to deal with all that within a short space of time. But that is the situation we are in, a complicated one but we have to deal with it,” said Loga.
The Croat said they need to improvise and make sure they cover some of the ground before the tournament.
“We are in a situation we want to use our coaching experience, we have to pay particular attention to certain areas which we think are important at the moment,” he said.

Loga, who led Zimbabwe in a defeat and a draw against African champions Algeria in November, believes it is not time to ‘give excuses’.
“The boys are showing determination, they are ready and I cannot say I’m not satisfied as a coach, I am satisfied.
“Just that the boys have lost some basics of football having not played for that long. Aspects to do with sense for space, touch for the ball, timing and other things;” he said.
The coach said friendly matches with local clubs before the trip to Cameroon have helped them select the right men for the job.
“We had to see who adapts quickly, we had to see who picks up the form we need. The hope was to see some players in action but we had to do it on our own through organising several friendlies with local clubs and it paid off.”

Chan Squad
Goalkeepers:
Simba Chinani (Dynamos)
Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders)
Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum)

Defenders:
Patson Jaure (Dynamos)
Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders)
Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum)
Tafadzwa Jaravani (CAPS United)
Ian Nekati (Chicken Inn)
Carlos Mavhurume (CAPS United)
Pawell Govere (Golden Eagles)
Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders)
Talent Chamboko (Manica Diamonds)

Midfielders:
Richard Hachiro (CAPS United)
Ronald Chitiyo (CAPS United)
Denver Mukamba (Ngezi Platinum)
Wellington Taderera (Ngezi Platinum)
Gabriel Nyahwa (Byo Chiefs)
King Nadolo (Dynamos)
Leeroy Mavhunga (CAPS United)
Tatenda Tavengwa (Harare City)

Strikers:
Tawanda Nyamandwe (Manica Diamonds)
Obriel Chirinda (Chicken Inn)
Farai Matare (Byo Chiefs). Nhau/Indaba