Rachier rekindles hope for Gor, Leopards continental aspirations

Barely over a week after signalling that Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards could opt out of the Africa Champions League and the Confederations Cup respectively, Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Chairman Ambrose Rachier has indicated the two clubs are targeting more glory in the said competitions this season.

Rachier, who doubles as the Gor Chairman, had desperately announced his club was not in position to cater for the continental championship costs following termination of sponsorship by a betting firm that cited over taxation.

His counterpart Dan Mule of Leopards expressed similar frustrations, as the firm cut it’s sponsorship for the 12-time national champions too.

However, in his speech during the KPL Gala Awards on Friday night in Nairobi, the long-serving Gor Chairman exuded confidence that the two clubs can erase their poor history in the the 2018 Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competitions.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards all the best as they
represent the country in CAF competitions. For a long time we have waited for our Clubs to feature in the advanced stages of CAF competitions, and hopefully this will be the year we will end that wait,” charged Rachier.

He called for massive support from all quarters to ensure Gor and Leopards give their best in the competitions, adding the forthcoming season should be characterized by more unity of purpose than the perennial wrangles.

“Success for them will set a foundation for better things to come and therefore we should give them all
the support that they need. Before AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia take on their CAF opponents, it is with a great sense of excitement that we look forward to their Super Cup clash on January 28 at the Afraha
Stadium in Nakuru.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the 18 Clubs competing in this season’s Kenyan Premier League all the best. While we fight for glory and pride on the pitch, off it, I urge you all to join hands and work together in improving the Kenyan Premier League.

Gor will open their campaign against Equatorial Guinea champions Leones Vegetarianos while Leopards take on Fosa Juniors from Madagascar in the first round preliminaries of the two competitions.