Harambee stars has been performing dismally on competitive matches for quite sometime now.
One wonders if Kenyans lack talent to compete with others on the international stage.
People have come up with reasons for our abysmal performances with prescriptions for cure that has so far not worked.
Mariga, former Kenyan star footballer, claimed that the country’s present football scenario is worse than when he was a player.
Mariga alleged on Radio Jambo, October 24, that the current national team players lack drive to succeed on the field.
This is because of the peanuts they receive in the shape of allowances from the government and Football Kenya Federation.
In an interview with Radio Jambo, the former player said the current players get Ksh750 per day in allowances.
He stated that he received between Ksh5,000 and Ksh10,000 during his stint as a player, which spanned between 2003 to 2018.
“The Harambee Stars players get paid around Ksh1,000 by Nick Mwendwa.
KFF paid us Ksh5,000 and Ksh10,000 when on away service under Sam Nyamweya.”
“Because they can’t make ends meet on the money they get from football, our players have been forced to work two jobs.”
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As a result, their concentration is split, and they are unable to perform for the national team,” Mariga remarked.
Mariga further stated that the federation had recently asked him to assist with the payment of a player’s hotel room.
“When our aircraft delayed in Morocco, Mwendwa asked me to pay for players hotel rooms in Gonzalez Ismael’s hotel.
He has never paid me despite having the receipt.
“Nyamweya, too, has never reimbursed me for flying tickets I used for national team duties,” Mariga added.
According to Mariga, the current scenario is terrible for the players, forcing them to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Mariga also stated that Kenya’s football rating in the world made it impossible for him to join one of the Premier League’s top teams.
“Kenya’s low FIFA ranking prevented me from joining Manchester City.”
“The status of football is deplorable, and I intend to petition President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene,” Mariga stated.
Mariga also stated the obstacles that prevented him joining Manchester City in 2010 are still present in the local game.
