Logarusic back at AFC Leopards as head coach

AFC Leopards head coach Zdravko Logarusic has returned to the club after a four week go-slow over salary arrears that saw him keep away.

The return of Logarusic coincides with the departure of Ingwe’s assistant coach Yusuf Chippo who rendered his resignation letter on Thursday, a day after the team lost 1-0 to Ulinzi Stars on Wednesday.

Logarusic is set to lead the team out of the dugout when they face Ligi Ndogo in the GOTV Shield Cup over the weekend.

In the four weeks of his absence, and with Chippo as the stand-in coach, AFC Leopards lost three matches, against Ulinzi (1-0), Nakuru All Stars (2-1), Sony Sugar (2-1) and drew against Bandari (1-1).

Moments after the resignation of Chippo, the club announced that goalkeeping coach Ezekiel Akwana will take charge as coach on interim basis.

In his resignation letter to the club hierarchy, Chippo mentioned administrative wrangles and unfriendly working conditions as the reason for his departure with reports linking him to Nationwide side Nairobi Stima.

With the return of Logarusic, it is expected that Akwana will take up the assistant coach position left vacant with the departure of Chippo.

Akwana, a former AFC Leopards player, joined Sofapaka FC’s technical bench as the assistant coach before taking over as coach after the dismissal of head coach Sam Ssimbwa in 2010.

Under his reign, Sofapaka won the GOTV Cup, then known as the President’s cup, and Mashujaa Cup.

His highest point though was beating Ismailia of Egypt 4-0 in Nairobi to cancel out a 2-0 first leg defeat and qualify for the third round of the Confederation Cup in 2011.

AFC Leopards currently lie fifth on the log with 35 points out of 23 matches.