MacDonald Mariga: This is why I moved from Italy to Spain

 He is the only Kenyan footballer to have won the coveted Uefa Champions League trophy, and the first ever Kenyan to ply his trade in La Liga

Kenyan international midfielder MacDonald Mariga has defended his move to the Spanish second-tier side Real Oviedo.

‘Big Mac’ who is the only Kenyan footballer to have won the coveted Uefa Champions League trophy in 2010 with Inter Milan, and the first ever Kenyan to ply his trade in the Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga, says his new club is well-known and respected in Spain.

Mariga who was recently unveiled by the club in their quest to earn promotion to the Premiere Division promised fireworks, adding that the fire still burns in his belly.

When asked about his reasons for joining the club, the box-to-box midfielder said, “I chose Real Oviedo because it is a great club in Spain, everyone knows about it. It’s a great club in Spain.”

He added that the objective “is to fight, give our best and reach our targets.” He told the club’s website that, “It (Spanish league) is very technical and less physical. We are in one of the best leagues in the world. For me, it’s not a challenge. I have played here before and I know it will go well.” Mariga said this in reference to his loan spell with Real Sociedad from 2011-12.

“As a footballer, the objective is in the work, to improve. As a team, the objective is to fight, give our best and reach our targets. I want to train and work and later the coach will decide.”

Last season, Mariga, who is the elder sibling to Harambee Stars skipper and Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama, turned out for Italian Serie B side Latina, making 41 appearances.

At the peak of his career, the lanky midfielder tuned out for Parma and Inter Milan in the Serie A but a niggling injury picked in 2014 slowed him down.

Now aged 30, Mariga will be hoping to have a good season with The Blues as he bids to reignite his career even as the twilight of his game beckons.