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John Obi Mikel, like Dennis Oliech, shares the financial burdens faced by African football stars, emphasizing the need to educate future talent.
In May 2022, former Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech revealed a painful truth that had long plagued Kenyan international players – the relentless demands from relatives for money and support while they struggled abroad, far from home.
Oliech's revelation shed light on a common struggle faced by many footballers, affecting their concentration on the pitch and, in turn, their performances.
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13:00 - 11.11.2023
'The players only earn Ksh.750 a day!' McDonald Mariga decries Harambee Stars players’ welfare
Mariga has revealed that the Football Kenya Federation owes him a lot of money, giving an example of how he had to cater for both his and Ismael Gonzalez’s traveling and accommodation expenses to honor a Harambee Stars game once.
Little did the world know that a year later, another African football legend, John Obi Mikel, would step forward to expose a similar plight that transcends borders and continents.
Dennis Oliech, the former AC Ajaccio star, took the stage during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2022 to educate Kenyans about the challenges he faced regarding his mental well-being.
"Family is the biggest challenge that I had because family and friends were always quite demanding. Wherever I am, they always wanted me to send them money, and my friends wanted this and that," he admitted.
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14:05 - 18.11.2023
FOOTBALL Chelsea star Thiago Silva drops retirement hint
The Brazilian great has penned a letter to his younger self, reminiscing how he declined to have surgery on his lungs that was to effectively end his career when he was just 21.
Unfortunately, many people failed to take his words seriously, often assuming he misused his earnings.
Fast forward to a year later, and the echoes of Oliech's struggles resonated with another African football icon, John Obi Mikel.
The former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder, speaking on Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with FIVE, revealed that African footballers are subjected to an additional tax of sorts – the unrelenting pressure to financially support extended family members and hangers-on back home.
"When you come from Africa - and this is something I don't think we speak a lot about - when you make money, it is not your money," Mikel confessed.
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09:00 - 20.10.2023
FKFPL Dennis Oliech advocates for Ksh100,000 minimum wage for FKFPL players
The former Harambee Stars goal-getter has revealed why football is way off becoming a sport that can contribute to economic growth in Kenya.
The former Super Eagles captain went on to describe a pattern familiar to many African players: "You have all these relatives, cousins, whatever. Your sisters, they go off and get married to some guy. He just wants to get married into John Obi Mikel's family because then [he thinks] 'my life is sorted'."
Mikel's account of the situation highlighted a stark reality: African footballers, despite their successes, often find themselves in a constant juggling act, trying to meet the expectations and demands of their loved ones.
"You start looking after this guy and you send money to your sister, and the money goes to him, and he does whatever he does with it. This is the thing nobody knows about - your money is not your money," he noted.
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11:32 - 18.11.2023
FOOTBALL Ivory Coast’s 9-0 thrashing of Seychelles gives Kenya hope for maximum points in Monday's encounter
Harambee Stars have received plenty of encouragement ahead of Monday’s clash against Seychelles after the island nation suffered a nine-goal rout in the hands of Ivory Coast
The burden of providing for family members and relatives back home becomes a cultural obligation for many African players.
As massive as Mikel Obi's net worth is, he still struggles with the challenges of helping his family due to excessive demands and pressure.
"You get a salary and say 'I'll put this aside for this person, put that aside for that person, and put that aside for my mum and dad'. Before you know it, you are getting less than them. That is the culture. They expect you to do that. For them, you owe them," he added.
Mikel's revelation serves as a wake-up call for young African players who are just starting their football careers.
"This story needs to be told. A lot of young African players that are coming up now need to be told this because they will go through similar situations. They will need to know how to deal with this," he added.
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08:00 - 18.11.2023
FOOTBALL ‘We will go there to win’ - Firat outlines Harambee Stars’ ambition against Seychelles
Harambee Stars coach Engin is keen on securing maximum points for Kenya in their second 2026 World Cup qualifier away to Seychelles on Monday
However, breaking free from this cycle of financial support is not without its challenges. Mikel admitted that players must be strong if they decide to stop assisting others financially, as there can be a significant backlash.
With Mikel Obi's net worth being his major source of financing his family, he gave an insight into how all the responsibilities fall back to him.
"Sometimes you have to say 'Enough is enough, I don't care'. For me, that moment came about five years ago," the 36-year-old added. "I said 'No more' because I have been doing this since I started playing football."
The emotional toll of these situations can be overwhelming, with players feeling emotionally blackmailed by their own family members.
"They give you this thing whereby 'If you don't do it [pay], we are going to go to the press'. You are thinking, 'You are family. After all I've done for you guys?'
In Africa, not everybody comes out and speaks about this because we think 'How are we going to talk about this?'," Mikel pointed out.
The fear of tarnishing their reputation or bringing shame to their families often silences these players, even as they are threatened by their own blood.
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18:00 - 17.11.2023
FOOTBALL Chelsea & Man City stare at Premier League relegation after precedent-setting 10-point deduction for Everton
Chelsea and Manchester City could be relegated from the Premier League if found guilty over their multiple breaches of financial rules following the heavy sanctions handed to Everton
The stories of Dennis Oliech and John Obi Mikel shed light on a hidden burden that affects many African footballers, regardless of their fame and fortune.
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