Mercurial star

Slovenia pins hopes on Zahovic

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Zlatko Zahovic appears to have rediscovered his groove.

After less than memorable spells in Greece and Spain over the past two seasons, the 31-year-old mercurial midfielder is back on the pitch and back in goal-scoring form.

The news comes as a blessing for tiny Slovenia as the fledgling country shapes up for its World Cup debut.

Zahovic is one of the few players on the Slovenian roster with the talent to turn a close game around through a touch of individual brilliance.

"I'm definitely back on the right track," the moody playmaker said. "After all the problems I fell into during the season, I think I've finally found my rhythm."

But a nasty, six-month abdominal injury was not the full extent of Zahovic's problems over the past two years. After a stellar season with Portugal's Porto and six goals from seven games in the club's 1999 Champions League campaign, Zahovic failed to win the favor of coaches at Greek club Olympiakos Piraeus and Spain's Valencia.

Instead of being at the center of action on the pitch, he was more often at the center of controversy outside the stadium, incurring lengthy suspensions and hefty fines after flare-ups with management.

"I'm not a troublemaker," Zahovic countered then, explaining the much-publicized feuds as irreconcilable tactical differences.

Fortunately for Slovenian soccer fans, national coach Srecko Katanec has been able to temper some of Zahovic's whimsical antics and the star came into his own with four goals from eight matches in the country's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Although Zahovic is not an out-and-out striker, he is indisputably the team's most lethal forward, netting 31 goals in 62 appearances.

Coach Katanec is reluctant to single out any of his players for special praise, insisting that the team's success is based on its performance as a compact unit.

"It goes without saying that Zahovic is a phenomenal player," Katanec said. "But my players have sacrificed their ego's and individuality for the benefit of the team as a whole."

So far, Zahovic has no problems sharing the trials and tribulations. He has meanwhile picked a new fight, however, with the official World Cup match balls introduced by Adidas, the "Fevernova."

"It's the worst ball I've ever played with," Zahovic whined. "It will be a problem since it's light as a balloon and bounces out of control."

 

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