Logarusic’s alleged email to FKF puts his job in jeopardy
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 07.04.21. | 20:25
Zdravko Logarusic is being investigated by Zifa on the legitimacy of his UEFA Pro License.
An alleged email to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) concerning a UEFA Pro License has landed Zimbabwe coach Zdravko Logarusic in hot soup and placing him under investigation.
According to reports from Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is investigating the credibility of Logarusic’s UEFA Pro Licence coaching badge.
In a recent interview, the former Gor Mahia coach revealed that acquired his UEFA Pro Licence in 2013 “after many impressive performances and grades in lower-level courses”.
However, an undated email to FKF, Logarusic informed FKF that he was working to acquire his UEFA Pro Licence soon, according to The Chronicle.
Efforts to get a response from FKF on the alleged email sent to them by Logarusic proved futile.
The leaked email is believed to be what tipped Zifa to commence investigations on Logarusic who recently made history by becoming the first foreign coach to guide Zimbabwe to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Zimbabwe vs Zambia pre-match media briefing
— Zimbabwe Football Association (@online_zifa) March 28, 2021
We are going to give time to players who have not had enough time to showcase what they can do for the national team - Logarusic pic.twitter.com/QjNE5CizAF
Another bone of contention on the legitimacy of his coaching badge is that the certificate he attached in his application for the Zimbabwe job had a convicted signatory.
A copy of his licence, which was signed by three officials, including recently convicted fraudster and tax evader Damir Vrbanović, a Croatian national.
Reports further indicate that Zifa technical director Wilson Mutekede had a conversation with a Uefa instructor requesting him to check on behalf of Zifa if Loga’s Pro Licence was legit.
A source in South Africa handling the Zifa investigation revealed to the Chronicle that a pandora’s box could be opened on European coaches plying their trade in Africa regarding their qualifications.
“It turns out there could be a huge scandal regarding these Uefa coaching badges held by most of these European coaches coaching in Africa. If you check, most of them mainly have African national teams or African clubs as their references in their CVs, an indication that they never coached in their native countries. Serious background checks need to be done by African nations and clubs when employing these folks,” said a source.
Logarusic had two separate stints in Kenya, first taking charge of Gor Mahia from 2012 to 2013 and AFC Leopards from 2015 to 2016.
