Tusker FC’s marksman Ryan Ogam has opened up about how head coach Engin Firat’s maiden call-up to the national football team, Harambee Stars, has fuelled his ambitions.
Ogam was among the 11 new players called to join Harambee Stars for a crucial CHAN qualifier return-leg match against South Sudan, which ended 1-1 in Kampala, Uganda.
Despite not making it to the bench for the return leg in Uganda, where Firat’s men bowed out but qualified for CHAN completion slated for February 2025 courtesy of being host, Ogam stated that the call-up pushed his confidence to the ceiling.
In a newsletter published by the Brewers on Thursday, November 14, 2024, the lethal finisher stated that he is now determined to achieve more and set a mark in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) and future assignments with the national team.
“This is a massive boost of confidence for me. Every player always dreams to don those national colours and for me, it is a massive step to earn just that call-up,” the clinical finisher stated.
“It has really motivated me to keep working hard because I know the better the results, the closer I get to my national team debut,” he added.
Ogam’s stats
Ogam, who signed up for the Brewers from Rainbow FC at the start of the season, has so far impressed the fans. He joined with bigger shoes to fit in after longtime Tusker FC striker Erick Kapaito left the club and joined Namungo FC in the Tanzanian Premier League.
🇰🇪| Massive congratulations to our forward Ryan Wesley Ogam who has been called up to the Harambee Stars squad for this weekend's CHAN qualifier against South Sudan. #KenyaMilele #Brewers4Life pic.twitter.com/XDClsVRfUx
— Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) October 29, 2024
Nonetheless, the Tusker man has been in impressive form this season, where he has scored five league goals in four appearances, his latest being a brace in their 3-2 defeat to KCB.
He is a joint top scorer in the FKF Premier League alongside KCB’s Francis Kahiro.
At the start of the season, after joining Tusker FC, Ogam had set a target of earning a call to the national team, which he has so far achieved, and he is only waiting for his time to make a debut.
“It is every player’s dream to play for the national team, and I feel delighted to receive this honour. It was one of my season’s targets when the season started, and I am delighted to have achieved it,” he said in a previous interview with Tusker FC media.
