The former AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia tactician has admitted that the level of competitiveness in the Kenyan topflight has taken a notch higher in the seven years he has been away.
Former AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia coach Zdravko Logarušić, who won his first match in charge of Kenya Police on Saturday, believes that the standard of competitiveness in the FKF Premier League has risen a notch higher in the seven years since he has been out of the Kenyan game.
The Law Enforcers edged Bidco United 2-0 courtesy of goals from Harambee Stars midfielder Kenneth Muguna and Clifton Kinanga, which effectively gave them their first victory of the season.
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Speaking after the match, Logarusic praised Bidco United’s organization as his side had to rely on “individual quality” to bail them out.
“We played against very good and very organized team,” Logarusic said. “They gave us a tough time,” he added.
“I learnt a lot because I was depending mostly on advice from my assistants but you see I changed system, I play something else not like half time and substitution did so well (introducing Alvin Mang’eni).
“He came in, he made nice cross, he controlled the game with some individual mistakes by the opposition’s backline.
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“We won today because of individual quality but we played against really good team and they gave us really hard time.
“With some individual quality upfront, we scored but I can say that this year, the KPL is very competitive. I can say it is much stronger than the last time I was here.”
The Croatian head coach has described the FKFPL as “a marathon race” and is interested to see who will emerge victorious.
“Here, everyone can beat everyone but it will be interesting. This is not sprint race. This is marathon league. Let us see by the end of the marathon run, who will be the marathon winner.”
Quizzed about his return to Kenya, he bullishly stated that he did not come to Police “to be number three, number four or number two”.
“I feel fantastic. I did not come to be number three, number four or number two. Simple.”
Police will face Nairobi City Stars in their sixth league game of the season.
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