Zafirov back at Lokomotiv

PFC Lokomotiv Sofia have taken Adalbert Zafirov on loan for the second time this season.

CSKA problems
The PFC CSKA Sofia defender played four matches for Lokomotiv before the winter break. The 32-year-old former Bulgarian international has now decided to return to the club after being told by new CSKA coach Luigi Simoni that he could not be guaranteed a first-team place.

No guarantees
"I told Zafirov that I couldn't guarantee him a place in the first eleven," said Simoni. "He came to me on Friday and told me that he was going to Loko Sofia, even though it was not what he wanted for himself."

Experienced defender
Zafirov began his career with Lokomotiv and later moved to CSKA. In 1997 he headed to Germany with DSC Arminia Bielefield only to return to CSKA a year later. After a short spell at 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Union Berlin, Zafirov again returned to CSKA in 2001, but struggled to win a first-team place. Zafirov joins fellow CSKA defender Samet Ashimov at Lokomotiv.

Pleven take another Levski player
Meanwhile, PFC Spartak Pleven have loaned a seventh PFC Levski Sofia player for the remainder of their Bulgarian Professional League campaign. Midfield player Yordan Terziev has struggled to find a regular place at Levski, despite scoring their first goal in the UEFA Champions League this season. Terziev will join Levski team-mates Yulian Petkov, Zahari Sirakov, Svetoslav Barkanichkov, Kostadin Bashov, Todor Kolev, Georgi Georgiev in Pleven.