McDonald Mariga Reveals How a Fetish for White Underwear Drove Him to On-Pitch Success

All over the world, footballers are known to have some pre-match rituals that act as some form of motivation before a game.

Whether is listening to a certain song, reading a religious verse or wearing something different. The choices vary from the simplest things to some bizarre acts.

Harambee Stars legend McDonald Mariga is among those who swore by a certain routine and for him, white underwear and socks never missed from his collection.

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Mariga enjoyed a great playing career that took him to Sweden, Italy and Spain, turning out for top clubs like Inter Milan, Parma and Real Sociedad among others.

During his playing career, Mariga admits that a fetish for white socks and underwear turned from an obsession into a ritual and he never felt the same if he wore something else on matchdays.

“When I forgot white underwear and socks on matchdays, I knew I was in trouble,” Mariga revealed on In Conversation w/Chaxy podcast. “If I wore something else, I felt discouraged even before the game.”

“I always made sure my underwear and socks were white. Whether I had the team suit of track suit on, I always had those on when going to the game,” he added.

Mariga still does not understand why he felt weird wearing something else on matchdays but admits the white socks and underwear motivated him to do better on the pitch.

“Every day we went to the game, I ensured I had both white socks and underwear. The day I did not pack them, I had a terrible game,” the Football Kenya Federation vice president said.

“It reached a point where I was not buying other colours. It just made me feel comfortable. It gave me some morale.”

Mariga, the only Kenyan to have won the UEFA Champions League, also lifted the Italian Serie A title, Coppa Italia as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, all while playing for Italian giants Inter Milan.