Im being begged not to quit, claims Gor boss Rachier

Even before the dust settles after long serving Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Dickson Rachier announced he will quit the club’s leadership in December 2019, a section of club followers is campaigning against the move.

Rachier, loved and criticised in equal measure, shocked the football world by announcing his intention just after Gor clinched their 18th Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title two weeks ago.

While his critics have celebrated albeit in low tones, Rachier claims he has already been asked by several club stakeholders to extend his tenure a little further.

“I have received calls from people telling me to rescind my decision. I however started thinking about this long time ago and it was not just a haphazard move. There have been calls for fresh ideas in the leadership and it is in order to give others a chance after doing my part,” said Rachier.

Having been at the helm for 11 years, Rachier has no regrets about his tenure, but wants a better structured office when he hands over.

“I have no favorite candidate to take over from me. I can’t direct the electorate to any person, they will decide when time comes.”

“When I started preparing to quit, I talked to some few individuals who I felt had the club interest at heart and were capable. Unfortunately, none of them is bold enough to take the mantle. They feel they are not ready,” divulged Rachier, keeping the names of the individuals to himself.

According to the law 43-year practising lawyer, a smaller size of the Gor leadership as provided for in the Sports Act 2013 would be a big plus to his successor, in the leap into the future of the Kenya’s glamour club.

“I have a big office to work with, 11 people all in positions of decision making. Sometimes it becomes difficult to run a club with such a number of people especially when some decide to pull in the opposite direction.

“In the club’s constitution, such are areas that need to be amended before the forthcoming elections,” articulated Rachier in a firm tone.

Since 2013, Rachier’s Gor has won all KPL titles save for the 2016 one which was bagged by Tusker FC, then under Ugandan coach Paul Nkata.

“The core business of a football club is to win titles, I’m proud we’ve been able to do that incomparably with our rivals in my time. In fact, we were denied the 2016 title by a boardroom decision when we were docked points. Deep in me I consider Gor Mahia the deserved winner of KPL that season,” said the outgoing chairman.

Rachier will hand over in the middle of the 2019/20 season, after the elections that will usher a new era of leadership under a new constitution.