John Bob Oyugi challenges Gor Mahia FC to confirm Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno as coach

John Bob Oyugi wants Gor Mahia to elevate coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno.

K’Ogalo chairman Ambrose Rachier confirmed on Monday that the club will unveil a new foreign coach from a pool of 53 applicants in the next one week to replace Dylan Kerr, who quit to take charge at Black Leopards of South Africa.

However, Oyugi, who once handled Gor Mahia, now says it is a waste of time for the club to go for foreign coaches, who are unpredictable and expensive. “If I was in the management of Gor Mahia, ‘Zico’ should have already been elevated to replace Kerr…it is that simple," Oyugi told Goal.com in an exclusive interview.

“Foreign coaches are becoming unpredictable and expensive for nothing. ‘Zico’ is in-expensive and capable of doing the same job the foreign coach will come to do. The pilot of our first direct plane to the US was our very own Kenyan, why not a football coach?”

Oyugi argues that Kenya must learn to keep trust with the local coaches not only in football but other sports. “We need local coaches to train our players from juniors, youths and senior players, as they know them better! It's not only football, but also in other sports that we should use as tools to instill discipline in the country. We need our local coaches and trainers not foreigners.

“A coach is a manager, trainer, teacher, advisor, mentor, etc. Several components involved. Where have we reached with foreign coaches? All our associations and Federations need to come up with a structured coaches’ development and education plan for our local coaches.

“Let’s stick to our own and avoid un-necessary expenses. Finally, what we have spent on foreign coaches is ‘more than building a stadium’ and they still come and go in dozens!”

K’Ogalo will host Nyasa Big Bullets from Malawi in the first leg of Caf Champions League on Wednesday before the return leg in Blantyre on December 5.