By Gilbert Wandera
Every time Gor Mahia coach Zradvko Logarusic goes on holiday doubts emerge on whether he will come back.
It is not different this time again after the coach failed to return as expected yesterday and, instead, wrote an email to club chairman Ambrose Rachier complaining about a number of issues including lack of a formal contract.
Logarusic, who also expressed fears over his future at the club, claiming that a section of its officials would want to see him go, further insisted that he wants a return ticket to Croatia in case he falls out with Gor before the season ends.
He also revealed that the club has never got him a work permit and has always lived in Kenya on a tourist visa.
“Dear chairman, I send you a copy of my tourist visa and a copy of my plane ticket to confirm that your coach does not have a work permit and has been operating here as tourist.
“I don’t know whether your officials understand that for one holding a tourist visa, they are required to hold a return ticket because I have tried to sort it out with them in vain,” said part of Logarusic’s email written to Rachier.
The Croat claimed part of Gor Mahia officials have always stood on his path to get a new contract after allegedly boycotting the signing of a new one.
“In this regard I cannot risk coming back to Kenya without a return ticket because if half of the office don’t want me anything can happen.”
Contacted, Rachier, while admitting that club does not have a formal contract with Logarusic, assured that they are working on the same and the delay was occasioned by failure to agree on some issues.
Formal contract
“We are yet to sign a formal contract with the coach this time around because he brought up some issues which were not in his previous contract. We have not agreed on these issues and once that happens, the signing can go ahead,” said Rachier.
But Rachier, a Senior Counsel, said the club has so far met all their obligations with the coach as per what was agreed on.
“A contract does not always have to be written. We agreed on some things and, as a club, we have gone out of our way to fulfill them. We don’t owe him anything,” said the Gor official.
The coach was given an improved Sh500,000 a month contract early in the year. This also includes a Sh200,000 apartment in the leafy suburbs of Nairobi.
Rachier, however, dismissed claims that Logarusic does not have a work permit pointing out that the club always gets one for him whenever he is in the country.
He said the club does not have a problem with Logarusic and is ready to bend over backwards to accommodate him.
“As the chairman of the club, I want to say that we have no problem with him. If he feels that some people don’t want him there is no way I can tell for sure,” said Rachier.
