My wife betrayed me - former cricketer Maurice Odumbe

Is it true that you often leave your phone with shylocks for some money to get by?

At times, if you don’t have anything in your pocket, you go to a pawnbroker. They call it rehani, whereby you leave your phone or any other valuable with them for a loan. But you have to pay the money within a specified period with a 10 per cent interest. I always leave my phone for an advance of Sh1, 000, which caters for my transport to and from town and to meet a few friends.

How was it like to play in a One Day International with thousands of adoring fans watching you?

It was a great feeling to play before 40,000 fans screaming your name and being aware that many more in Kenya are watching you on TV. We were Kenya’s ambassadors.

Did you at any point think you were invincible?

Well, I could have been invincible because I was doing my thing...and I was doing it well. I knew the whole country was behind me. Even the then President Daniel Arap Moi used to send me messages encouragement. I don’t think I was untouchable though. I just didn’t imagine anyone would want to deliberately hurt or malign me.

What about the match-fixing allegations?

I need to set the record straight again. There was never any match-fixing. I was accused of inappropriate contact. Questions were raised about my relationship with someone who was known to be a bookie. It was not about match-fixing, but rather my friendship with someone whose character was regarded as dubious.

But did you ever fix a match?

We never fixed any matches. We were always the underdogs playing against India or West Indies. How could we fix such matches? If we were throwing any games, we would never have reached the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup. If I was fixing matches, we would have been home after the first game.

Apparently, you lived lavishly and was splashing money all over the place...

I wouldn’t call it extravagant. I was leading a life consistent with my status. I was being paid well and I travelled a lot. May be that was seen as flamboyant in other quarters.  But I gave back as well. I used to sponsor events back home involving 24 footballs clubs and 10 volleyball teams. Those events would run for up to three months.

I wasn’t splashing money. I was well remunerated as a professional cricketer playing overseas. I got paid in dollars. Corporate companies like Safaricom would sponsor my tournaments and events as well. That’s how I got the resources to do the things I did.

You claimed that your wife sold you out...

Yes, that is true. She was approached by investigators and I don’t know what they promised her to say the things she did. They believed whatever she told them. It was a witch hunt, like they were out to get me and teach me a lesson. I wouldn’t be surprised if money changed hands.

How bad have things become?

To be honest, things are really bad. I don’t even know where to start. It’s been painful. Sometimes it’s well-wishers who come to your rescue. I’ve found myself in very desperate situations, contemplated many things (sheds tears) and even experimented with stuff I would otherwise not considered.

I did drugs and at one point had to check myself into a rehab because I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore (asks for a tissue to wipe tears).

When you walk the streets hungry and broke, how do you approach people to help you, knowing who you were in the past?

Sometimes you don’t know what to say honestly. It’s painful (breaks down in tears and the interview is cut short).