Zedekiah Otieno is a former Kenyan international footballer and an experienced coach, currently leading SportPesa League club Posta Rangers. He returned to the club as head coach in April 2026 after coaching assignments in Kenya and Tanzania. Famously known as Zico, Otieno replaced interim coach Collins “Korea” Omondi.
Posta Rangers head coach Zedekiah Otieno is in his second spell with the club, having previously led the team from 2015 to 2017. Follow Zedekiah’s football career, coaching journey, milestones and latest news in this SportPesa profile.
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A profile overview of Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno
| Profile Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Zedekiah Otieno |
| Common Name | Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno |
| Nickname | Zico |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Occupation | Football Coach, Former Professional Footballer |
| Current Club | Posta Rangers FC |
| Current Role | Head Coach |
| Current League | FKF Premier League |
| Appointed at Posta Rangers | April 2026 (second spell) |
| Former Playing Position | Defender |
| Education | Kariobangi Primary School; Nairobi Technical School |
| Playing Career | Gor Mahia FC (1989–1996); Kenya national team (1992–1995) |
| International Caps | 9 (Kenya National Team) |
| Coaching Experience | More than 20 years |
| Notable Clubs Managed | Gor Mahia, Kenya national team, Sony Sugar, Posta Rangers, KCB FC, Sofapaka, Tanzania Prisons |
| National Team Experience | Former Harambee Stars interim/head coach (2010–2011) |
Who is Zedekiah Otieno
Zedekiah Otieno, popularly known as Zico, is a Kenyan football coach and former defender. He represented Gor Mahia and the Kenya national team and has since held coaching roles with clubs in Kenya and Tanzania. He currently manages Posta Rangers FC.
Zedekiah Otieno’s early life
Public sources provide conflicting accounts of Zedekiah Otieno’s exact date and place of birth. These details should not be stated as confirmed without a reliable primary source. He is reported to have grown up in Nairobi and attended Kariobangi Primary School and Nairobi Technical School.
Playing Career
Zedekiah Otieno developed as a footballer in Nairobi and played for lower-tier teams before joining Gor Mahia. Available career records place his Gor Mahia playing spell from 1989 to 1996. A defender, he also represented the Kenya national team between 1992 and 1995 and is widely reported to have earned nine senior caps. During his club career, Gor Mahia competed in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, the historical predecessor of the CAF Champions League.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Otieno moved into coaching and held roles with Gor Mahia, Sony Sugar, the Kenya national team and Posta Rangers. He served as KCB FC head coach from 2019 to 2023 and guided the club to a runners-up finish in the 2020/21 league season. He was appointed Sofapaka head coach in January 2024, later worked in Gor Mahia’s technical setup during 2024 and 2025, and subsequently coached Tanzania Prisons until February 2026. He returned to Posta Rangers as head coach in April 2026.
Coaching philosophy
Otieno’s publicly documented coaching career shows experience in team management, player development and working in competitive East African leagues. Specific claims about his formal coaching philosophy should be attributed to a verified interview or official source.
Zedekiah Otieno’s career stats
The timeline below summarises Otieno’s principal reported coaching appointments. It avoids assigning tactical systems or achievements that have not been reliably verified.
| Season(s) | Club / Team | Country | Position | Major Achievement |
| 2003–2004 | Nairobi City Stars | Kenya | Head Coach | Early senior coaching role |
| 2004–2006 | Gor Mahia | Kenya | Head Coach | Coached in the Kenyan top flight |
| 2007–2010 | Sony Sugar | Kenya | Head Coach | Led the senior team |
| 2010–2011 | Harambee Stars | Kenya | Head Coach | National-team coaching role |
| 2011 | Gor Mahia | Kenya | Head Coach | Returned to the club |
| 2012–2015 | Sony Sugar | Kenya | Head Coach | Additional coaching spell |
| 2015–2017 | Posta Rangers | Kenya | Head Coach | First spell with the club |
| 2017–2019 | Gor Mahia | Kenya | Assistant Coach | Member of the technical team |
| 2019–2023 | KCB FC | Kenya | Head Coach | League runners-up in 2020/21 |
| 2024 | Sofapaka FC | Kenya | Head Coach | Appointed in January 2024 |
| 2024–2025 | Gor Mahia | Kenya | Technical roles | Worked in the coaching setup |
| 2025–Feb 2026 | Tanzania Prisons FC | Tanzania | Head Coach | Coached in Tanzania |
| Apr 2026–Present | Posta Rangers FC | Kenya | Head Coach | Returned for a second spell |
Read Also: Mathare United coach Kamau reflects on costly slip against Posta Rangers.
Biggest challenges in coaching
Zedekiah’s coaching career has not been a straight line; it has its ups and downs. The challenges that he has faced and is facing in his coaching journey are:
● Unrealistic expectations from both the coaches and the club’s leadership. For instance, priority to immediate wins and lasting pre-season building.
● High-pressure managing big clubs like Gor Mahia.
● Inconsistency with the players and limited resources during the rebuilding phases.
Zedekiah Otieno’s tactical and leadership style
Otieno’s long playing and coaching career gives him experience in defensive organisation, squad management and adapting teams to different competitive environments. Detailed claims about a double pivot, a three-player press, liberated wing-backs, technology or data analysis should not be attributed to him without a verified interview or tactical source.
Read Also: Former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat dies at 55
Honours and achievements
The table below lists selected, verifiable career milestones. Unconfirmed individual awards, licence levels and historical honours have been excluded.
| Year(s) | Honour / Achievement | Club / Team | Category |
| 1989–1996 | Played for Gor Mahia | Gor Mahia | Playing career |
| 1992–1995 | Represented Kenya; nine caps widely reported | Harambee Stars | International career |
| 2010–2011 | National-team coaching role | Harambee Stars | Coaching milestone |
| 2015–2017 | First spell as head coach | Posta Rangers | Coaching milestone |
| 2017–2019 | Assistant-coaching role | Gor Mahia | Coaching milestone |
| 2020/21 | League runners-up | KCB FC | Team achievement |
| 2024 | Appointed head coach | Sofapaka FC | Coaching milestone |
| 2025–Feb 2026 | Head coach | Tanzania Prisons FC | Coaching milestone |
| April 2026 | Returned as head coach | Posta Rangers | Coaching milestone |
Latest News
The veteran tactician Zedekiah Otieno is officially the Posta Rangers head coach. Zico rejoined the club on April 14 2026. His return to the Rangers is critical to help the team prepare for the 2026/2027 season. Stay tuned to SportPesa news to get all the football updates as they unfold.
FAQs about Zedekiah Otieno
Who is Zedekiah Otieno?
Zedekiah Otieno is a former player who is the head coach for the Posta Rangers.
Which club does Zedekiah Otieno coach?
Zedekiah Otieno, famously known as Zico, is the head coach for the Posta Rangers.
When did Zedekiah Otieno join Posta Rangers?
Zedekiah Otieno joined the Posta Rangers as their head coach on April 14 2026.
Which clubs has Zedekiah Otieno managed?
Zedekiah Otieno has managed several clubs. These includes;
● Sony Sugar FC
● KCB FC
● Sofapaka FC
● Tanzania Prisons FC
● Posta Rangers FC
Does Zedekiah Otieno hold a CAF coaching licence?
Otieno has undertaken CAF coaching education, but the exact licence level should be confirmed from an official federation, CAF or club source before publication.
Conclusion
The Legendary Zedekiah Otieno is making headlines in his coaching career. Previously, he made headlines as a player; today, his achievements are centered on what he is achieving as the great coach he is. Sign up on SportPesa to get all the news about Zedekiah.
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