B. OdhiamboMcDonald Mariga reveals how Inter Milan defeats affected his life in Italy
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 10.03.26. | 21:41
During his illustrious career, Mariga won multiple major trophies with Inter Milan, including the Serie A, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Coppa Italia
Harambee Stars legend McDonald Mariga has opened up about how his movements were sometimes restricted whenever his team lost matches during his time at Italian giants Inter Milan.
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Footballers are among athletes who can turn from hero to villain in a matter of minutes, depending on their performance on the pitch.
It is not uncommon for a player to be criticised heavily after a poor display in one match, only to be celebrated as a hero in the next game after delivering an impressive performance.
In the modern era, where social media plays a huge role in shaping public opinion, players often receive harsh and sometimes abusive comments from fans who hide behind their keyboards.
In some cases, supporters even express their frustration directly when they encounter players in public places such as streets or shopping malls, and the situation can become tense if the player reacts.
Mariga is among the footballers who have experienced both sides of the coin, having played at the highest level in Serie A and La Liga.
However, it is his time in Italy that stands out most vividly in his memory, particularly moments when defeats made it difficult for him to move freely in public.
Speaking on the In Conversation with Chaxy podcast, Mariga recalled how he sometimes avoided leaving his house after a loss during his stint with Inter Milan.
“There is a time when you lose, you cannot even get out,” Mariga revealed.
“You cannot go out to shop; you have to send someone. There was a time I was at Inter; you could not go out in Milan. I had to send friends to do shopping for me.”
According to the former midfielder, a footballer’s social life often depends heavily on the team’s results on the pitch, forcing players to carefully choose when and where they appear in public.
“You only get out when you start winning, so this lifestyle of going to nightclubs is impossible,” he said.
“Fans would finish you for going to a nightclub when you have lost a match.”
He further noted that supporters can quickly forget previous victories once a team suffers a defeat.
“There is a time when you win, you can go out and fans will sing your name, but when you lose they forget the ten games you had won,” added Mariga, who currently serves as vice president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
During his illustrious career, Mariga won multiple major trophies with Inter Milan, including the Serie A, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Coppa Italia.
Apart from Inter, the Kenyan legend also turned out for Parma Calcio and Latina Calcio in Italy, as well as Real Sociedad and Real Oviedo in Spain.