.jpg)
Sofapaka president takes legal action after Zico ditches club for Gor Mahia
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 07.07.24. | 07:06
Zico was unveiled by Kenyan champions Gor Mahia last week but Kalekwa insists the coach has a running contract with them.
Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa says the club will take disciplinary action against departed coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno for absconding duty.
Zico was unveiled by Kenyan champions Gor Mahia last week but Kalekwa insists the coach has a running contract with them.
"He has a contract for one year that expires next year in February. I was shocked to see him being unveiled by a rival club without our consent.
“We don’t owe him anything as per our contract but he has left us at a crucial time when we needed him the most,” said Kalekwa.
The Batoto ba Mungu president was speaking after his side beat Najvas FC 1-0 in the first leg of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) promotion/relegation play-offs at Police Sacco Stadium.
He claimed Zico had not issued a notice before departing the club and returning to Gor Mahia as one of the assistants to the newly installed head coach Leonardo Neiva.
“I wish he would have come to us and told us Gor Mahia were interested in his services. We wouldn’t have stood in his way as long as he fulfilled his obligations to the club.
“I view it as betrayal of the highest order considering that we are facing a crucial play-offs. We have asked our lawyers to take up the matter and ensure that we get justice,” he said.
In the absence of Zico, Ezekiel Akwana was on the bench for Sofapaka who need just a draw next Sunday in the return match to retain their top tier status.
