Sihlangu head coach Zdravko Logarusic appears to have himself at the centre of controversy after being unveiled as the new manager of Saudi Arabian club Al Tai SC, all while still under contract with the Eswatini Football Association (EFA).
Just as the nation’s pride prepares to embark on their COSAFA Cup campaign, Logarusic is surrounded by confusion, one that crosses borders, contracts and perhaps ethical lines.
After a mysterious absence, Logarusic quietly returned to Eswatini on Monday to resume preparations for Sihlangu’s upcoming COSAFA Cup campaign in Bloemfontein, South Africa which kicks off on Monday.
But his sudden reappearance has only deepened the mystery and the backlash.
EFA seems to be in the dark as they insist he remains committed to his two-year deal signed last August. This is despite that images of the Croatian coach leading training sessions in Al Tai colours, confirmed by the Saudi club’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, tell a different story.
During his mysterious absence, whispers grew louder that the nation’s pride had been abandoned. Yet EFA stood firm, insisting that their man would soon join the national team in camp.
But then came the curveball with images showing Logarusic being unveiled by Al Tai SC, donning club colours and leading training sessions. To make matters worse, his Wikipedia page now lists him as the current manager of the Saudi side, stating that he was appointed on April 16 with the club making it official the following day on their social media X page.
Now, with Eswatini’s national team needing unity and focus ahead of a critical tournament, the man at the helm may be coaching in two time zones and juggling two allegiances.
When reached for comment, EFA Communications and Marketing Officer Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe declined to speak on the matter, directing all questions to the coach himself.
“I cannot say anything to what you are saying, but all I know is that the coach has a running contract with EFA,” he said briefly.
The coach only said he was not leaving Sihlangu when asked about joining the Saudi Arabian club Al Tai SC.
However, he had earlier spoken on the national team’s preparations after leading a training session. At the time, the coach expressed optimism about the team’s readiness ahead of the COSAFA Cup tournament.
“My initial assessment of the team is that we need to improve our energy levels, but apart from that, the players look good. The spirit is high within the camp and we will continue to prepare for the competition.”
He also noted that past performances against their upcoming opponents would not influence their current approach, stating that they would treat each match as a fresh challenge with the aim of securing victories.
