Rachier: Gor Mahia stadium in the pipeline

Gor Mahia’s chairman Ambrose Rachier at a past league match involving his club. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Today, I want to do an honourable thing and give a man I highly respect the right of reply.
  • You see, two weeks ago I wrote a personal missive to the Gor Mahia chairman in which I raised a number of pertinent issues that are of concern to our support base, otherwise known as the Green Army. Excerpts here:
  • “Mr Ambrose Rachier, I do respect you. You have done great for this mighty club.

Today, I want to do an honourable thing and give a man I highly respect the right of reply.

You see, two weeks ago I wrote a personal missive to the Gor Mahia chairman in which I raised a number of pertinent issues that are of concern to our support base, otherwise known as the Green Army. Excerpts here:

“Mr Ambrose Rachier, I do respect you. You have done great for this mighty club.

But today, I will tell you I am disappointed in you.

For some time, there have been stories about pilferage at the club, especially on the gate collections.

However, that has never been confirmed until last week when the Kenyan Premier League wrote a letter to you asking you to take action on some of your colleagues in the office who apparently pocketed gate collection in a league match.

Mr Ambrose Rachier, I know you are not the kind of person who can reduce himself to steal from the club coffers, in any case, you have sacrificed so much to bring back Gor Mahia to where it initially belonged, at the top.

But unfortunately, we have a bunch of officials sitting in your office who have come in to enrich themselves at the club.”

Unlike many of those sitting in high offices, Rachier had the courtesy of replying to me addressing the issues I raised. Here is the good man’s response:

“I have read K’ogalo Corner this morning with keen interest and I hear you.

I am indeed investigating the embarrassing claims of fraudulent false account as also of the defalcation of funds from gate collections.

Regarding the putting up of a stadium, we are actually working on the architectural plans which I can share with you.

Next February, we intend to hold celebrations to mark 50 years of the club’s existence during which we will take stock of our achievements and chart the way to achieving the desired professionalism.

One of the challenges, apart from ticketing, is the attitude of fans towards paying to enter the stadium which we must change.

More later….. but thank you for this great article.”

I commend the man for taking the time off and respond.

This the kind of accountability we require from those we have elected to administer our institutions.

As it stands, the matter of pilferage looks far spread and reports emerging on social media indicating that there are some cartels that see the club as a cash cow which they must milk till it drops dead.

Will write about that soon.

Meanwhile, wishing the chairman well in his endeavours.