‘Zico’ on mission to transform Gor Mahia

Very few people can match the tremendous impact that coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno has had on Gor Mahia since his arrival at the club just six months ago.

In the last 12 seasons, K’Ogalo have never come so close to winning the Kenyan Premier League title. This could just be their season, and the man pushing them to that success is, interestingly, their last captain to have lifted the title 15 years ago.

Otieno talks passionately about the young squad he is moulding, terming it the best since the title-winning side of 1995. Then, Gor had one of the most talented squads in the league that included Dan Ogada, Allan Odhiambo, and Tom Okaya in the midfield.

They also had Steve Odiaga, Felix Otieno and Mike Otieno upfront, Paul Ochieng and Sammy Omollo in defence with Charles Omondi “Korea” in goal.

The squad also boasted of Dan Shikanda and Jared Ochieng’ Achieng. It is this squad that won the league title three times in 1990, 1991 and 1993

“Gor has had great squads in the past. People like Nahashon “Lule” Oluoch, Allan Thigo, William Chege Ouma, Sammy Onyango, George Onyango “Fundi”, John Okello Zangi, Abbas Magongo, the list is endless,” says Otieno.

Great squads

“But I think the last of Gor’s colourful squads was the one that lifted the crown in 1995. Now we have a team that can match the great Gor squads.

“Of course the current squad is still in the building process but the team is mirroring the great squads of the past. They are still young and are eager to learn.”

Otieno likens his striker, George Odhiambo “Blackberry,” to the legendary Chege Ouma, who could slice through any defence and bury the ball in the net. “You saw what Odhiambo did against Ulinzi Stars,” he says.

“But, as I say, Gor is still an unfinished product. The boys are hugely talented but are still raw. Look at Anthony Akumu, for instance. He has a great future, maybe not even in the Kenyan league, but he must work as hard as other players in the squad.”

Gor Mahia have won the Kenyan league 12 times and the cup title eight times. They also have three regional titles and won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1987.

They have never been considered contenders for the league title in over a decade, until the beginning of the second leg of this season when they rose to the second position in the championship, an unfamiliar territory for the one-time giants of Kenyan football.

However, Otieno says they are deservedly among the title contenders. “We are operating on a limited budget but the welfare of the players is well catered for. All of them have contracts, something that has been uncommon at the club for a very long time. They get paid their dues in time and are focused on training and matches,” he says.

When Otieno came to Gor Mahia in February as technical director, the club had already made some improvement after years of flirting with relegation. At the helm was Gideon Ochieng, who had guided K’Ogalo to fifth in the league last season, when Otieno was at Chemelil.

Instability

A few fans questioned why a man whose club had not even finished among the top contenders was appointed boss ahead of a man who had guided Gor to fifth, just six points adrift of champions Sofapaka. That was recipe for instability at the Gor bench, and as soon as Otieno came in, the lack of cohesion became evident.

Camps started developing within the playing unit, whose loyalty was divided. Something had to give. The club management took the decision to part with Ochieng, who was close to the players but had little experience as coach. Otieno was made the supremo.