By Gilbert Wandera
Gor Mahia coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno is a man under siege after his side drew 2-2 against KCB last weekend at Nyayo National Stadium.
With seven matches to go before the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) winds up, Otieno is skiing on thin ice in what can be termed as a twist of fate, where Otieno finds himself in unfamiliar situation.
At the same time last year, he was the fan’s hero, as the club smelled the KPL title in what was then a close race to call.
On Saturday, Otieno scampered for cover under a hail of missiles from the fans. But surprisingly the same fans gave a standing ovation to the players, who should have been on the receiving end of their ire, after such a mediocre display against the bankers.
Gor surrendered a 2-0 lead meekly allowing the bankers to claw back into the game and snatch a point from a match that was theirs to win.
Following that result Gor may as well have kissed goodbye their title ambitions and should now focus their energy on winning the Football Kenya Cup title, the only avenue available for the club if they are to play continental football next year.
Borrowed time
"It is a very tricky situation for us and we are still consulting on the way forward but he is still the coach and has not resigned as some people are claiming," said Gor Mahia Deputy Secretary General Ronald Ngala, commenting on the coach’s fate.
While Gor Mahia are struggling to find their footing, archrivals AFC Leopards are basking in new found form, their best in the whole season and this was proven by a 3-0 thrashing of Sony Sugar the club’s biggest away victory in recent times.
The win sees AFC Leopards jumping to the seventh position in the standings just below Gor Mahia in what has been an incredible turn around since Dutchman Jaan Koops took over at the club just two months ago.
Secure hands
The presence of Koops on the Leopard’s technical bench has brought a steadied the ship away from the torrid currents, which threatened to push the club towards relegation. Now AFC Leopards have something positive to show to their sponsors Mumias Sugar.
Chemelil Sugar maintained their recent surge with a 2-0 win over Karuturi Sports and move to third position.
Just like Koops has turned around Leopards, the sugar millers owe their recent performance to former AFC Leopards tactician Edward Manoah and now look forward to one of their best finish in the league.
At the bottom of the standings, City Stars find themselves in trouble again after going down 2-1 to Thika United and moves down to position 15.
Stars, who welcomed back coach Ken Odhiambo after a one-month suspension, will need to make a quick turn around to escape the relegation axe. Also threatened with relegation are Congo United and Bandari.
Elsewhere, they will be two midweek KPL matches tomorrow at Nyayo National Stadium.
Sofapaka will play Bandari with kicks-off at 5.30 p.m while the second match, which kicks-off two hours later, pits Mathare United against Congo United.
Sofapaka will be hoping to continue their good run in the league and hope to beat Bandari
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