Gor Mahia owe Rachier Ksh100 million, claims club treasurer Dolphina

Milton OchiengGor writer

Gor Mahia treasurer Dolphine Odhiambo has said she is not to blame for the financial woes bedeviling the club.

In an interview with our sister station Ramogi FM; Odhiambo said she inherited a huge debt of over Ksh200 million.

According to Odhiambo, the new office is trying its best to manage the debt situation, but warned it might take time due to lack of a steady cash stream.

“Most people don’t know that my predecessors left a huge bill behind.  I have invented methods of trying to clear the bill to get the club back to its feet. No one should blame me for the past mistakes,’’ asserted the treasurer.

Surprisingly, the treasurer stated that of the debts, the club owes its chairman Ambrose Rachier Ksh 100 million, noting that she is also owed by the club, but did not disclose the amount.

According to Dolphina, the current office has done some good and deserves appreciation.

Asked why the wage bill is so high, she noted that when she took over from former treasurer Sally Bolo, the club’s monthly wage bill stood at Ksh5.5 million as compared to the current Ksh 4.5 million, noting that the figure has come down.

‘’I reduced the wage bill immediately I took over as one of the measures to rescue the club from collapsing. Our sponsors only give us Ksh55 million annually yet we need close to Ksh6o million for salaries alone, let alone traveling, accommodation and pitch hire.’’

The treasurer said the current office is working together despite claims that club secretary general Sam Ochola has been advocating for an online merchandise sale through Jumia platform with her advocating for sale via a merchandise shop located at Pioneer House along Kenyatta Avenue, an issue she brought to rest by stating that both arrangements were adopted by the club.

Odhiambo was also at pains to explain when the playing unit will have their salaries paid. Gor owe the playing unit salaries for the month of February and March, a situation she attributes to the delay by the continental football body CAF in releasing the Ksh6 million entitled to the club for reaching round two of the CAF Champions League preliminaries.

“On March 6, CAF wrote to us seeking to have our bank details. We organized with our bank and sent them all the details. They later claimed they did not get the details on time. This time round we’re doing the same through the Federation hoping and for the best,’’ explained Dolphine, while also dismissing suggestions that they have already received the money.

Odhiambo at the same time distanced herself from claims she has a role in the pending exit of midfield dynamo Kenneth Muguna, adding that it’s purely an agreement with the technical bench, but was quick to add that any player who gets a greener pasture cannot be compelled to stay.

Odhiambo also blasted a section of vocal fans who, she said, have not registered as club members yet keep on accusing the club of mishandling funds.

The club, according to Dolphine, has also introduced a short code that enables fans to receive Gor Mahia news at Ksh 6 per message.