Rachier: Gor Mahia needs Ksh 35m for CAF Fixtures
Unlike last season when Gor Mahia went to Tanzania and Rwanda, this time Gor Mahia have to travel to extreme ends of the continent, flying to North Africa twice and to Angola once. The cost of travel is exhorbitant and club chairman Ambrose Rachier is once again appealing to the government for assistance.
Additional reporting from the Nation
Gor Mahia need Sh35 million to honour their upcoming Caf Confederation Cup group stage matches. And the 17-time Kenyan champions have already sent a distress call to the government to bail them out ahead of their opening match next month.
K’Ogalo were pooled in a tough group “D” that has five-time African champions Zamalek of Egypt, Petro Atletico (Angola) and Hussein Dey of Algeria in Monday’s draw conducted by Cameroon legend Patrick Mboma in Cairo, Egypt.
Despite celebrating reaching the group stages of this competition for the second successive time, the painful reality has dawned on the club management ahead of their opening game against Zamalek on February 3 in Nairobi.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, whose draw is slated for March 20 in Cairo, Egypt. Quarter-finalists will bag Sh35 million and semi-finalists Sh45 million, while the winners pocket Sh125 million and runners up Sh63 million. Related Content
Gor, who edged out New Stars de Douala of Cameroon 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round, are already sure of receiving Sh27 million for reaching this stage.
However, club chairman Ambrose Rachier says the annual Sh66 million sponsorship from gaming firm SportPesa is insufficient for this campaign. The amount is channelled towards the Sh5.5 million monthly wage bill of the record champions. “First, I would like to thank the government for paying our tickets to Cameroon to honour the New Stars game,” Rachier said. “I humbly appeal to them to cater for accommodation and transport in upcoming trips since we are struggling financially,” the veteran lawyer added.
According to Rachier, an away trip costs about Sh8 million in flight tickets and accommodation. “We are discussing on a motivational scheme for the playing unit for a smooth show this time round,” he concluded. His sentiments were echoed by Deputy Secretary General Ronald Ngala, who said they target to reach the semi-finals having missed by a whisker last season, after finishing third in group “D” on five points, three behind Algerian outfit USM Alger and Rayon Sports of Rwanda, who progressed to the quarterfinals.
Defender Philemon Otieno says they are prepared to make amends despite tough away fixtures in Northern and Southern Africa. “One thing we’ve learnt in these continental fixtures is to be mentally strong when playing away and make sure you convincingly win at home,” confided Otieno, who captained the side in the two-leg playoff.
Gor has up to January 31 to register youthful defender Geoffrey Ochieng’, strikers Ephrem Guikan, Nicholas Kipkirui and legendary Dennis Oliech, who were ineligible to feature in the qualifiers.
GOR MAHIA FIXTURES
February 3: Gor Mahia v Zamalek (Egypt) February 13: Petro Atletico (Angola) v Gor Mahia
assuming i pay 35m and kogallo gets into the quarterfinals, can i get my money back ? this is the investment thinking and Very soon this issue of financial challenges will come to an end with formation and registration of jodala associates, a vehicle that will be mobilising funding to ensure we appear in CAF group stages and quarter final stages , every year for the next 5 years. watch this exciting space…………………………………….
Gor had income generating activities like Gor Mahia bread, paybill number, sale of t-shirts etc…..these initiatives should have continued but unfortunately we dropped them when a sponsor in the name of Sportpesa came on board. They would have helped to some extent.
Sun 3.2.19 GM vs Zamalek
Wed 13.2 Petro vs GM
Sun 24.2. GM vs Hussein
Wed 3.3.19 Hussein vs GM
Wed 10.3. Zamalek vs GM
Sun 17.3. GM vs Petro
EC should get down to work on how to raise 10 m for their first away trip. Let them market our first match against Zamalek aggressively starting now and they will raise that money through entrance fees.
GMFC is about to recieve 27 milion meaning out of that 35 milion they are in need of 8 M NOT A BIG DEAL!!!
Shida kubwa ni management ya ador. Has he forgotten that alitumia pesa ya gor kuenda Russia. He is the same person ukimuuliza accountability anakasirika. Why should I contribute to the person who is not willing to work with the fans for the betterment of the team. Kila mwaka nikuomba tu. No wonder jakom hasaidiangi for at all
Even if they get 5m on get collection, that will remain a guarded secret thereafter the money will go into private pockets of the corrupt.When was the last time get collection made public?? This might contribute to low attendance of the match at kasarani on 3rd.Transparency, Transparency, Transparency???!
Rachier be transparent with gate collection and make it public. This will contribute in attracting fans to the stadium
AR a 5.5m monthly wage bill means GM is/can paying 55 people 100k each every month. GM has about 30 players,11 EC, TB & CEO 7 people that makes 48 persons. BE MORE TRANSPARENT GIVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE 5.5M AND THE 35M. DON’T HIDE BEHIND LUMPSUM FIGURES.
Facts and figures don’t lie and may come back to bite. 1) How many people are on GM’s monthly payroll and what’s their cost/benefit contribution. 2) What about other incomes e.g gate collections, transfer fees e.g 12m Walusimbi,3m Mieno,4m Miguna etc.
JUST CURIOUS, AR ARE ALL GM PLAYERS PAID AT LEAST 100,000 PER MONTH? SOCCER IS A TEAM SPORT THEREFORE PLAYERS SALARIES MUST BE RATIONALIZED ESPECIALLY THOSE THE SENIOR TEAM OF ABOUT 18/20 PLAYERS. Bloated EC, squad etc is bleeding the club’s finances.
You do not make sense. Gor Mahia or football clubs are not parastatals nor frontiers for ‘Socialism’. Clubs are blue chip companies and the best earn millions for their owners. This is done thru’ big spending. Clubs that rationalize as you say will never get anywhere in football. Ronaldo as you already know earns mega bucks. His “returns” far outweigh other members packages. Clubs that were purely formed on ‘social activities’ like Ulinzi et Tusker will never get anywhere in this world of soccer and the number one reason is this rationalization you speak about. Kenyan soccer needs more Kariobangi Sharks.
If a Gor player does not like his package, the message is simple quit.
Gor must find a structure that can make it be ran like a company. Unfortunately it’s backed by people who would rather milk than come up with ideas that can drive the club into the future.
Rachier, pls tell us how you spend the money. How much does Gor owe you etc. How are player bonuses managed? Who are official Gor scouts and how much do they “reap”? Where are Gor finance statements? How much does EC take home? Why is EC paid in the first place?
Too many dark clouds in your “wail” for money. You seem not to care so long as everything benefits you.
You have destroyed my confidence in attending matches simply coz I am not sure in who’s pocket the money will end up.
All Gor projects are viable, Mpesa, sacco, water, bread. They have all failed coz of one reason; Transparency.
I recently heard in Ramogi one official giving an account on club contributions, club membership, to be exact and the stats were pathetic. Gor fans(branches) exist only by name(mainly for election purposes) but will not and are not prepared to give their money to the club.
I for one, i’m ready to support but when I ask you to show me how you spend the money will you respond in return?
So l watch and support Gor on TV and on the net.
Gor Zamalek will earn you money and i’m sure your already smiling, the problem is that you do not have any idea of how you will turn Gor into Zamalek any time soon. Gor might beat Zamalek as we all hope, this will raise the level of hysteria and the Gor fans will all ‘wail in praise’ that Gor IMEFIKA. But alas, the castle still stands on sand. EC pockets the stash silently then the same sadistic cycle starts all-over again.
Why should we be participating in competitions that do not make clubs better off. Gor has been doing well since 2010. Either as champions or Runners up. This has not changed Gor financial status. We can blame the Club Official but what does this Suprano Man Mwendwa have to say when clubs qualify in the league he organizes and then they cannot finance them to participate in intercontinental tournament when they know each year there will be champion . When getting sponsors can FKL ensure, clubs that win the league are facilitate to play in continental tournaments.
if not leave office
At what point do a club stop being Club and start being KENYA representatives. Can the government support
CAF CL’s kes.54m would’ve been enough 4 EC’s/brokers’ greed leaving a little 4 players/TB. CCC’s 27m is not enough 4 EC, that’s why we fell 4 the fake Lobi qualification guarantee hook, line & sinker not asking HOW a non TB was making such wild claims.
Rachier must be transparent and give details of how the 35 million comes about.
So we have missed another trophy for this year? Maybe the boys need to rest or alternatively the defence of Momanyi and Joachim is the best. Will we still hear those noises of Bonnie this Bonnie that?
we were to be chapwad somehow. Better be chapwad by Mbao that Kariobangi Shacks.
Nobody listens to Jakoyo. Now I see his seventh sense.
Fredrick Odhiambo, 26. Philemon Otieno, 2. Geoffrey Ochieng, 12. Joash Onyango, 18. Haron Shakava, 10. Cercidy Okeyo, 3. Samuel Onyango, 24. Lawrence Juma, 14. Dennis Oliech, 22. Erisa Ssekisambu, 25. George Odhiambo
Substitutes: 29. Boniface Oluoch, 4. Wellington Ochieng, 27. Charles Momanyi, 15. Joachim Oluoch, 6. Shafik Batambuze, 20. Ernest Wendo, 11. Boniface Omondi, 9. Jacques Tuyisenge, 23. Francis Mustafa, and 8. Francis Kahata
Why gor are begging year in, year out and they decided to through sportpesa cup to mbao in Tanzania! I doubt this coach! His lineup was fake! He had a strong pole! Even Kenyan league they will not get!
I watched the game against Mbao and it was a fine game, we were denied a clear gaol which could have shaped the game differently. So the final loss to me isn’t a big deal, remember you can’t win everything all the time