Eh?
Kadenge was paid well in his days?
Where did you get that info?

Swali tu.

The same Peugeot he used as a taxi in Hurlingham?

Footballers in the 1960s were hardly paid anything. Sometimes they were given cash awards and sometimes even cars. But getting a cash award even a hefty cash award is not the same getting reliable salary every month as a civil servant.

In some cases footballers drove around in big cars because an official or a politician gave it to them. But a big car is a liability for a person without a steady income or with a low income. For example, the famous teacher from Siaya (Wasonga was his name), who composed "Tawala Kenya", was given a brand new Mercedez Benz by president Moi. But the Mercedez was expensive to maintain. Yet he could not sell it because it was a gift from Moi. The car probably made him broke.

Even today, there are only 2 or 3 teams in Kenya that pay footballers a decent amount and pay on time. If you play for a team like Sofapaka , you might go 3 months without salary. Even Mathare United has a hefty sponsorship from Britam but only pays footballers a pittance. Many of these footballers still live in Kaloleni or wherever they grew up. All the sponsorship money is going into Munro's pocket.

And the cash awards given to footballers in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were paltry. For example, when Gor Mahia won Africa cup in 1987, they were each given Ksh 1000 each.

The cash awards from the 1960s when Kadenge played were even lower.

In fact in that era even the track athletes never made a lot of money. Most of the world beating runners from that era like Asati, Jipcho, Temu etc were given cash awards by President kenyatta but it was not much. These runners today do not have much to show for all the glory they gave Kenya. Some were lucky to be given land or a house. Most were not.

Another issue that happened is that kenyatta and Moi would direct that the players be rewarded with certain cash amounts. The ministry officials would take almost half the money or more.

It was so bad that mahmoud Abbas once told Moi that if he was going to give cash awards, he should do so himself instead of asking a ministry official to disburse the money.

Long story short, Kadenge never made a lot of money in his playing days. In fact civil servants are much better off because often they can get bribes or siphon public money into their bank accounts. And even honest civil servants are better off because they had a steady income for their whole life and often a pension upon retirement or golden handshake. Plus many retire with some health benefits. This is Kadenge's problem. He has no health benefits.

He he he Ati Kadenge was paid well. He is a family friend. My Dad played with him in both Abaluhya fc and Harambee stars. I can tell you for a fact the guys were paid next to zero! That Peugeot was acquired looong after he retired and was his only means of income.

Did your dad tell you Joe was a civil servant Naks in the 50s and 60s and later Kakamega? Did you live in Mariakani SB. Kadenge was not just a footballer. Like many footballers then and I guess even now, football was his part time. He worked for Coke, UBF, 680 Hotel....