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Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa tore into Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno for allegedly absconding duty to and return to Gor Mahia at a crucial time for Batoto Ba Mungu.
Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa has vehemently criticised Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno for his unexpected decision to leave the club and join Gor Mahia as an assistant coach.
This departure came shortly after Otieno had guided Sofapaka to the FKF Premier League playoff.
Sofapaka managed to retain their top-flight position after defeating National Super League side Naivas 2-0 on aggregate in the relegation/promotion playoff but by then, Otieno was in Dar es Salaam with Gor Mahia for the Kagame Cup.
The 2009 league champions had a tumultuous season, finishing third from the bottom and narrowly avoiding relegation through the playoff.
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Despite this crucial victory, Kalekwa has expressed his frustration with Otieno's decision to leave the club just six months after joining mid-season.
“We had brought him to help us and he had a contract running for a year. But his departure can make you really belittle coaches like him, I am sorry,” Kalekwa stated.
“You cannot be professional and abandon your team in a bad state when we need you the most. We do not owe him a single coin, and even if we did, there is a professional way of going about these things.
“He went against the terms of the contract. He saw we were preparing for a playoff and opted to abandon us anyway.”
Kalekwa further revealed that legal action might be taken against the former Harambee Stars coach, accusing him of breaching the terms of his contract.
“His contract was to run until January 2025. This situation is what earned him the job. As Batoto Ba Mungu, we do not like battles, but we will go to war with him for this," he added.
“There are things on that contract he should pay. I do not know if he read them, but I have lost my respect for him, and it could make me doubt other coaches.”
In a dramatic twist, Kalekwa also accused Otieno of potentially colluding with Naivas to jeopardise Sofapaka’s chances in the playoff.
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“It even got me thinking he conspired with Naivas to make us lose. What he did for someone who is professional and a CAF instructor, it was wrong. He is useless.”
Reflecting on their prior relationship, Kalekwa expressed deep personal disappointment, stating, “What pains me is that he was my friend before. Now he has proven he is a fake friend. I do not like fake people.”
The charismatic president’s fiery remarks underscore the gravity of the situation and the emotional and professional betrayal felt by Sofapaka following Otieno's unexpected departure.
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