NAIROBI, Kenya, November 3- Gor Mahia will invest heavily to ensure they make an impact at next year’s CAF Confederations Cup.
Chairman Ambrose Rachier added poor planning had cost the side their humiliating preliminary round exit at the hands of Rwanda’s military side APR who edged them 5-0 on aggregate.
“We have already started preparations for next year’s campaigns. Our arrangements for the 2009 campaign were haphazard. We had just come into office and we did not have enough time,” Rachier, whose team was elected in office in July of that year, said.
“Our aim is to better the performance of Sofapaka this season and if possible, go full throttle and win the competition like we did when we won the 1987 Africa Cup Winners Cup,” he added.
Sofapaka, who lost to Gor 1-0 in the final of this year’s FKL Cup, advanced to the fourth round of second tier continental club competition by ousting Angola’s AS Aviacao, Egypt’s Ismaily and DR Congo’s St. Eloi Lupopo before falling to Club Africain.
To date, Gor remain the only Kenyan side to lift an African title with their victory over Tunisia’s Esperance in the competition known as Mandela Cup.
The team’s sponsors, Brookeside Dairies also pledged to aid their preparations as well as come up with a reward the team for their Cup victory.
“We have taken note of Gor’s victory and we are working on how to appreciate it with the players and details will be out soon. We will give them all the support they need to make their campaign successful,” the firm’s marketing manager, Rosemary Amolo, said.
The rapid return to form of Gor Mahia in their last three matches has justified the assertion of club chairman Ambrose Rachier that the slump that saw K’Ogalo register only a single league win since July was politically instigated.
“I clearly told you, my candidature had a lot of damage to the club. The elections ended on October 29 and on 30th Gor beat Sony 2-1 and yesterday (Wednesday) beat City Stars 1-0. I’m I not vindicated?” Rachier who came fourth in the race for the chairmanship of Football Kenya Association (FKA) during last Saturday’s unified national polls charged.
The Gor supremo had alleged a rival candidate thought to be Football Kenya Limited (FKL) leader, Mohammed Hatimy had infiltrated the team by paying off some players to throw matches.
“The saboteurs have no course to continue their machinations because there are no more campaigns,” Rachier responded when quizzed on whether action would be taken against those found to have wrecked the club from within.
Rachier also observed the sacking of Gor head coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno from a similar role in the national football team; Harambee Stars was beneficial to the side.
“He will have much more time with us. Sometimes, doubling up gives coaches problems but now that his other post has been taken up by (Francis) Kimanzi, he will be fully back,” as he reiterated, “He is on leave since we have not terminated him and his contract is ending sometime next year.”
Rachier was speaking when the club unveiled its official replica kit manufactured by Italian firm Legea that will go on sale at its secretariat at Nyayo National Stadium and appointed branches.
The initial consignment of approximately 650 units will retail at Sh2,800 apiece with official polo shirts going for Sh1,500 also on sale. The initial shipment will see the kit buyers get a jersey and shorts but from next season, only the top wear will be traded.
Gor will earn ten percent of the price for every sale with the club stating production logistics and freight cost could not allow it to accrue more from the brand.