Rachier has disclosed his efforts to comfort Benson Omala following the collapse of his intended transfer to the Algerian team JS Saoura.
Ambrose Rachier, the chairman of Gor Mahia, has confessed he personally reassured Benson Omala after his planned transfer to the Algerian club JS Saoura fell through.
Last week, the striker faced significant disappointment when his expected move to JS Saoura did not materialize, despite initial agreement from all involved parties.
Documents indicated that the transfer would have been highly beneficial for Omala, offering him a significant financial reward, a car, generous allowances, and other benefits.
Moreover, Gor Mahia, his current team, stood to gain financially from the six-month loan agreement, with Saoura agreeing to a three-million payment.
However, the deal met unexpected challenges, plunging Omala into turmoil as he dealt with the abrupt change in his circumstances. Gor Mahia had already said their goodbyes, and it seemed Omala was mentally prepared for the new challenge ahead.
Rachier now shares that he reached out to Omala personally to offer consolation and reassurance to the Kenyan international with two caps.
“Yes, I have spoken to him, not face to face but at least over the phone to soothe him because he had set his heart on leaving,” Rachier told Citizen TV.
“Some counseling has been done by both the coach and us, the time off given to him was part of the recuperation process in terms of ‘How do we mentally reintegrate him into the team’?”
Rachier also explained that Omala’s bench start in their recent match against Ulinzi Stars at Machakos Stadium was part of this recovery effort.
“You will notice that in the starting lineup, Chris Ochieng took his place in the first half, and in the second half, Omala was brought on just as part of a rehabilitation process to help him move past the failed deal.
“Anyone involved in football management would acknowledge that this situation is unprecedented. These FIFA cases are a recent development, which we link to COVID.”
Rachier then defended the financial difficulties the club faced from 2020 to 2023 and the loss of their CAF Champions League license by the Football Kenya Federation after several players reported the club to the continental authority for incomplete payments.
“During the COVID era, it’s overlooked that contracts were still valid despite there being no football and no sponsorships, leading to a financial shortfall.
“It wasn’t due to mismanagement, negligence, or contract breaches, but rather the inability to meet salary obligations without any income.
“All stadiums were shut, there was no football, hence no gate receipts, and we lacked sponsorship. SportPesa had withdrawn.”
