Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno’s association with Gor Mahia has been one filled with emotional highs and turbulent lows. Once a respected player and coach, his return as interim boss in January 2025 came at a time when the club was grappling with uncertainty following the departure of Brazilian tactician Leonardo Neiva. The mandate was clear restore stability, rebuild morale, and reignite Gor Mahia’s pursuit of domestic dominance.
Initially, there was cautious optimism surrounding his appointment. As someone deeply familiar with the club’s culture, Zico was seen as a steady hand. However, the optimism quickly waned. In February, the club appointed Croatian Sinisa Mihic as head coach, effectively demoting Otieno to the assistant role once again. While publicly respectful, behind closed doors, the decision triggered growing discontent within the technical team.
Cracks began to show as reports emerged of Mihic accusing members of his support staff including Zico of undermining his leadership. Tensions escalated rapidly, with the two reportedly clashing over tactical decisions and training methodologies. The once-cohesive technical unit began to unravel, unable to function effectively amid the ongoing power struggles.
This internal friction was further compounded by the team’s poor form. Gor Mahia struggled to maintain consistency in league performances, and with fans growing increasingly vocal in their dissatisfaction, the spotlight shifted back to Otieno. By May, Mihic’s tenure came to an end after a dismal run of results and an atmosphere of disunity in the dressing room.
The club, in a desperate bid to stabilize, reinstated Otieno as interim coach alongside Michael Nam. However, this decision only added fuel to the fire. Fans, already exasperated, questioned the wisdom of recycling failed solutions. Their anger was directed at both Zico and the management, criticizing the absence of a fresh, long-term strategy and tactical clarity.
As June unfolded, so did the final chapter of Zico’s stint at the helm. With the league title slipping further out of reach and the domestic cup looking like a slim consolation, the pressure on the board intensified. Supporters demanded accountability, and Zico became the most visible symbol of a project that had lost direction.
In the end, his dismissal wasn’t about one failed game or a single bad decision. It was the culmination of internal power struggles, eroding trust, poor results, and an ever-growing divide between the club and its passionate fanbase. For Zico, it marked yet another abrupt and painful departure from a club he once called home.
