Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia has confirmed that they are not in the process of appointing a new head coach.
According to club chairman Ambrose Rachier, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno will lead the club on an interim basis until the end of the current 24/25 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season.
“As of now, we are not hiring a new Head coach. We are convinced that our interim coach Zedekiah Otieno is doing well with the team,’’ Rachier told Citizen Digital.
Zico took over from Brazilian Leonardo Martin Neiva who parted ways with the club in November.
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In the eight matches that he has managed, Otieno has led the 21-time league champions to five wins, one draw and two defeats.
With a game in hand, the club currently sits in third place with 24 points from seven wins, three draws, and four losses. They are just three points behind league leaders KCB and Tusker, who are tied at 27 points.
Gor Mahia put trust in locals
Despite receiving over 40 applications from both local and international coaches, Rachier stated that the club has decided to give the interim coach time.
They are not in a hurry to appoint a new head coach and believe that if the local coaches meet their expectations, there will be no need to look for foreign alternatives.
‘’We have decided to give the interim coaches time. Come end of the season, we shall gauge their performance before we can make a new decision. But if they meet our expectations, we will surely not need a foreign coach,’’ added Rachier.
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Zico, 56, is serving his third stint at the club after previously managing Gor Mahia in 2010 and 2011. His extensive experience includes coaching other clubs such as Posta Rangers, KCB, and Sofapaka.
He has also served with the national team, which gives K’Ogalo hope that he will lead them to their 22nd league title.
Currently, Zico is in Zanzibar with the national team for the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup, leading to Gor Mahia’s first match of the year against Posta Rangers being postponed. The club will now prepare to face Tusker FC on Sunday, January 19.
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