This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
Kenyan football star Wesley Onguso has found an unconventional way to make a living during the coronavirus pandemic. With football activities halted indefinitely since March, Onguso has turned to ferrying passengers on his motorbike to make ends meet.
“I cannot sit home all day. There is no income. And I don’t like being idle,” Onguso explained, highlighting the financial struggles faced by many footballers during this period.
According to Onguso, he makes around Sh1,000 a day from his new venture, which he uses to tend for his family. The government recently released a stimulus program to cushion footballers affected by the pandemic, offering a Sh10,000 monthly stipend for months of June, July, and August.
Onguso, who plays in the defence position, has enjoyed a stellar career on the local front, turning out for teams such as Posta Rangers, Mathare United, and Sofapaka in the Kenyan Premier League, alongside the men’s national football team. He is remembered for scoring a penalty when Harambee Stars beat Zanzibar in Machakos to win the 2013 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.
