By Fredrick Nadulli,

When McDonald Mariga won the famous treble of uefa champions league,the scudetto and the Italian cup with Inter Milan,then under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho,Kenya had arrived on the global soccer map.

The Harambee Stars midfielder earned rave reviews and comparisons soon followed.Italian tabloids billed him the new Patrick Vieira.That was within six months.Things have since plummeted southwards for the former Parma linkman.Mourinho left for Real Madrid,Inter lost their shine and Mariga was loaned out to Real Sociedad.

His perfomances didnt match his high ratings and Sociedad were pleased to see his back.Dejected and back in Italy,he sustained a knee injury that meant a lengthy layoff.It took well over 14 months for the Kenya international to heal completely.Well he is now up and about but reports from Italy will not please football lovers.

Mariga now trains,not with the Nerazzuri first team,but with reserves,and is short of match fitness.He is itching to get back in action and the FIFA international week early this month accorded him a welcome break after he got a call up for the first  time in more than two years.

He was back,or so he thought.The friendly with Sudan aborted and he’s back at his European base,where reserve team action awaits,far from the days of rubbing shoulders with first team stars like Javier Zanetti.Things can only get worse for East and Central Africa’s most decorated soccer son thus far who is rumored to be distressed with the way things are punning out in his career.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com