BY MANUEL ODENY
Former footballer McDonald Mariga has hinted to United Democratic Alliance ‘Bottoms Up’ economic model as what he will do to improve football in Kenya.
Speaking to the press in Migori town on Tuesday after meeting with Football Kenya Federation delegates, Mariga said like his political godfather President William Ruto, he will shape the country;s football through the ‘bottoms-up’ economic model.
During the last 2022 general elections campaigns, Ruto rode into State House promising to transform the country economy through working with entreprenuers and Kenyans at the bottom of the economic ladder like mama mboga (market women) and boda boda riders.
“We will have a bottoms-up approach in improving the league by nurturing talents from youths in the grassroot which will end up feeding the league and national team with talent,” Mariga said.
He was reacting to a question while High School games are more popular and fill stadiums with loyal fans compared to Kenya Premier League and National Super League games and fixtures.
Mariga started his football career from Kamukunji High School where his talent was found before he ended up playing for Tusker FC, Kenya Pipeline and Harambee Stars.
Mariga also plied his trade in European leagues where he is the only Kenyan footballer to ever lift the UEFA Champions League ticket at Inter Milan where he was coached by Jose Mourinho, the famous tactician.
Mariga is vying as a running mate to Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohammed for Football Kenya Federation Presidential election which are set for December.
Mohammed is banking on Mariga football career and international connection to win the seat in what has been termed as a fresh start for the country’s football.
“We are going to improve Kenya’s football, and the best way is to tackle runaway corruption in the sector,” he said.
He promised to bring professionalism in running the league too if elected for the seat.
Mariga also revealed the Wanyama Academy he is building with his brother Victor Wanyama, first Kenyan to play for Premier League with Tottenham Hotspurs, is 90 per cent done on a 22-acre piece of land in Nambale, Busia County.
The academy will have an administration block, state of the art pitches for training and official league matches, quarters for tutors, coaches, and players’ handlers.
The academy targets to nurture talents from youngsters aged between 14 and 15 years.
