At 74 years of age and having been at the helm of Kenya’s most successful club on the field, Gor Mahia, as chairman for 15 years, Ambrose Dickson Otieno Rachier, fondly referred to as ADOR, feels it’s time for him to take a back seat and allow next set of leaders to assume leadership of the 55-year-old club.Branded “Mugabe” after the late former long-serving president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, who ruled the Southern African country with iron fist for three decades, and was only ousted in a bloodless power take over led by his former vice-president-turned political foe Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2017, ADOR, on the contrary, is planning a peaceful swan song ahead of next year’s exit.Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier has announced that he will retire from club politics when his current term expires next year.Rachier has been Gor the chairman since 2008 and is by far the most successful chairman of the club with eight league titles to his name.’I will… pic.twitter.com/haQG5PSk5C— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) June 25, 2023 Previously accused of negating his pledge to leave, Rachier’s options are limited this time as under Sports Act 2013, a chairperson of a sports organization “shall hold office for a term not exceeding fouryears, but is eligible for re-election for one more term,” and having been elected twice under the act, Rachier is constitutionally barred from contesting another term next year.”At times, I look back and wonder how I’ve managed to juggle my personal and professional life and being the chairman of Gor Mahia,” Rachier, an established conveyance lawyer and a University don, told Mozzart Sport in a candid interview.”Managing Gor Mahia is not as easy as many people may think, it can be very tasking at times, and involves a lot of movements that my advanced age may not take anymore. I think it’s time I retire into a quiet life and go look after my grandchildren,” Rachier said.##NAJAVA_MECA_7368158##To his fiercest crisis, Rachier’s management was by crisis; allegedly stage-managing or allowing difficult situations to crop up, only for him to emerge as the super savior like a knight in shining armor to restore order or offer a solution.”People who talk loudest are also the ones who contribute nothing to the club, but I got used to it. If I were to sue a few of them for calling some of us cartels, I’d be very rich, but I choose to ignore them and do my work,” Rachier rebuffed.When he assumed the leadership, K’Ogalo had gone a whopping 13 years without winning the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), a long period for a team that was formed in 1968 to win and dominate, and he had to wait another five years before he could deliver the coveted gong to a now disillusioned fanbase, that had largely deserted the team.Yet, after breaking the duck in 2013, Gor Mahia has continued to enjoy an envious domestic success – bagging eight league titles, plus countless number of fringe trophies, including the FKF Cup, under Rachier’s watch.Juxtaposed with arch rivals AFC Leopards, who last tasted league glory 25 years ago, when Rachier took over, the two clubs were at par in terms of the titles with 12 a piece, but Gor Mahia are now eight honors ahead.”I’m proud of it. The gulf between us and our rivals may take many years to bridge, and may stay that way long after we’re gone,” Rachier said.Ambrose Rachier reveals retirement plans on the aftermath of Gor Mahia’s 20th titleWhile still thirsting for more success, Rachier believes that winning FKFPL next season will go a long way in solidifying his legacy, which will largely be judged by on, but not off field exploits.Alive to the fact that he will be time barred and will not be to deliver on his long standing promise of building Gor Mahia a stadium of their own by the end of his tenure, Rachier holds that if he can help the club to get hold of a piece of land the late President Daniel Arap Moi gifted them, then he would have played a big role towards the realization of that dream.”We have written to President William Ruto to intervene,” Rachier disclosed, adding that Sports Kenya, the body mandated to run national sports facilities in the country, is adamant that the land belongs to them.Despite having allotment letters for the parcels adjacent to Kandanda House, the home of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), in Kasarani, Gor Mahia, and AFC Leopards, who were also gifted by Moi, have been unable to process title deeds for them.Open letter to Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier”This has held us back in terms of developing the lands. There are people who have wanted to come on board and partner with us in building a stadium, but this has not been possible.”Rachier is urging interested individuals salivating for his seat to come forth early in the interest of seamless transition. “Interestingly, nobody wants to be Gor Mahia chairman. The few people we’ve approached have declined, even my past competitors are not showing interest.”According to Rachier, during the recent Gor Mahia tour of Homabay County, the club’s patron Hon. Raila Odinga prevailed upon him to stay, but he made him aware of the Sports Act dictates.Before his last dance, Rachier is willing to groom his successor, but only if he/she comes forth.As he prepares for this predetermined future, ADOR wants another strong stab at continental glory. In 2018, Gor Mahia reached the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup, but subsequently, the team’s quality went down, and they have not been able to replicate the feat or do better.Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Dickson Otieno Rachier has confirmed that coach Johnathan Mckinstry will remain in charge of the club next season.#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/L0DNHmYZT8— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) June 28, 2023 With a strong sponsor behind them, and having qualified for next season’s CAF Champions, Gor Mahia will revamp its squad, and if possible set preseason camp outside the country to best prepare them for a return to Africa.”The coach has suggested a preseason camp in Rwanda or Uganda. We shall see what’s possible,” Rachier said.
