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Mariga has revealed that the Football Kenya Federation owes him a lot of money, giving an example of how he had to cater for both his and Ismael Gonzalez’s traveling and accommodation expenses to honor a Harambee Stars game once.
Former Harambee Stars and Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga has slammed the welfare of Harambee Stars players under the regime of outgoing FKF president Nick Mwendwa, decrying first hand how he even had to pay for his own flights and accommodation to honor call-ups.
The Champions League winner has revealed that Mwendwa’s incumbents tried to care for the players’ welfare, adding that they were given much better stipends during Sam Nyamweya’s era, where a local-based player would earn 5000 shillings a day while a foreign-based one would earn not lesser than 8000 shillings.
The older brother to Victor Wanyama, who has put himself in the running for the FKF presidency should he get everything in order, has described Mwendwa’s leadership as “not good” for Harambee Stars players.
“It is different because I played during previous presidents’ regime,” Mariga told Radio 47. ”I also played during his era and I think that there has been a big difference in terms of financial accountability as well as looking after player welfare.
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21:59 - 10.11.2023
FKFPL Mariga praises Jose Mourinho’s man-management skills as he aims dig at Kenyan coaches
Mariga has revealed the details of his final conversation with Jose Mourinho before he left Inter Milan in 2010 while describing how Kenyan coaches make life difficult for players
“His leadership has not been good. His time in office has not been good at all for the players because his leadership is not good for me.
“I do not know other things, but based on the things I see, he is not doing well. For example, when I was playing for Harambee Stars, I earned Ksh. 5000 a day.
“Infact, that amount was given to local based players. I had my own special amount for being a European based player. I earned around 8000 or 9000 shillings.
“The reason foreign based players earned more was because local based players would stay in camp longer.”
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08:08 - 09.11.2023
FOOTBALL TBT: Mariga opens up on the behind the scenes intrigues of his failed Man City move & nearly missing out on Inter Milan
McDonald Mariga has revealed the intricate details of his £7 million transfer to Manchester City that fell through in 2010 and how its disappointment almost cost him a move to Inter Milan.
Mariga has hilariously revealed that Harambee Stars players earn as little as 750 shillings a day for honouring call ups, saying that former captain and brother Victor Wanyama told him so.
“Now, all players, regardless of whether they are local or foreign, earn the same amounts of money, which is 740 or 750 shillings. Even Wanyama (told me) he earned that.
“Back then, Sam Nyamweya was president of the federation. If for example we were flying out to go and play abroad, for example in Mauritius, Kenya and Uganda, a local based player would earn 10,000 shillings a day.
“That is why I am saying that we blame players and judge them too harshly, yet they barely earn enough to motivate them.
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05:42 - 08.11.2023
FOOTBALL Mariga reveals how a conversation with Samuel Eto’o left the Cameroon legend saddened by state of Kenyan football
McDonald Mariga has opened up on a past chat between him and Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o that left the four-time African footballer of the year sympathising with Kenyan football
“There were also bonuses. If we won or drew, there is more we would earn.”
The 36-year old insists that players are thrown under the bus for performing below par in a national team shirt, but has jumped to their defence, saying that the low allowances contribute to their lack of motivation.
He has also added that the FKF still owes him money after he once had to pay for both his expenses as well as teammate Ismael Gonzalez before an international friendly once.
“Most people come back because it is Kenya, you are playing for your country and you are also coming to see your family. Patriotism and family.
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“I stopped playing at some point because they were treating players badly. To this day, FKF still owes me money. I used to pay for my own flights under Nyamweya and even under Mwendwa.
“There was a time we went to take part in a friendly away and the fights were delayed. The player who plays in Spain (Ismael Gonzalez)’s card would not work.
“I had to pay for his hotel accommodation and flight and they promised they would refund me, I think around 70 or 80,000 for him alone. You have not even counted my own expenses. These are the things that damage player morale!”
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16:10 - 07.11.2023
FOOTBALL McDonald Mariga fires back at Jamal Mohamed over claims of ‘not connecting’ Kenyan players to European teams
McDonald Mariga has responded to claims made by Jamal Mohamed that he was among European-based stars who refused to help Kenyan players get opportunities abroad
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