Angry fans forced Gor Mahia’s coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, and the playing unit to leave the SportPesa Arena in Murang’a County using the rear entrance after the team lost 1-0 to Kenya Police on December 14.
At the final whistle, the incensed fans were looking for the club’s chairman, Ambrose Rachier to explain why the club had lost the second consecutive league match “yet we have travelled to Murang’a to support the team.”
It was the third straight match that the 21-time Kenyan league champions had failed to win, having also lost 1-0 to Bidco United a week earlier, and having drawn 1-1 with Shabana FC.
The fans were incensed, and interim coach Otieno and the playing unit were forced to sneak out of the stadium on foot to escape the wrath of angry fans. Days later, Rachier calmed down the angry supporters by assuring them that the club was in the process of naming a new coach. But Otieno, who is a former player of the club, has since eased some pressure off his shoulders by guiding the team to a 1-0 win over Kariobangi Sharks at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday.
The victory came hot on the heels of another 3-0 thumping of Ulinzi Stars on December 18 at the same venue. Both victories seem to have lifted a heavy load off Otieno’s shoulders.
Although Gor beat Kariobangi Sharks by just one goal on Sunday, Otieno was visibly-elated.
“It is good that we have picked all the three points. The most important thing is to win as many matches as possible,” said Otieno.
Speaking after their 3-0 win over Ulinzi Stars at Kenyatta Stadium on December 18, Otieno admitted that the victory had relieved both him and the players of significant pressure. “Not only me but also the entire team was under pressure. I say congratulations to the boys because they came out very well and controlled the game, they showed strong character, and they were on top of things from the first whistle to the last,” he observed. Otieno took charge of Gor in an interim capacity after the team parted ways with coach Leonardo Neiva on November 13 due to poor performances.
The former Harambee Stars player has guided K’Ogalo to five wins, two losses, and a draw.
He maintains that he is only concentrating on guiding the team to success and not convincing Gor’s management to give him the job permanently. “I have coached the national team before and Gor, what point do I have to prove? Our objective remains to make sure Gor retains the league,” he said.
Gor are out to defend the title for the third straight season and extend their dominance of the competition to 22 titles. After a slow start to the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation Premier League that saw Gor Mahia part ways with Brazilian coach Leonardo Neiva, the defending champions appear to have recovered their footing, as they are now just three points shy of leaders KCB. Following the conclusion of round 15 matches at the weekend, the FKF-PL takes a 12-day break to allow the players, clubs, and match officials to join their families for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Action is set to resume on January 4. Alongside Tusker, KCB have amassed 27 points but they are ranked top, thanks to a two-goal advantage over the brewers who have a match in hand. Gor sit third with 24 points from 14 matches, while Kenya Police, also on 24 points from the same number of games occupy fourth place due to an inferior difference.
