Ogam made his unofficial debut for Harambee Stars at the Mapinduzi Cup in Pemba Islands earlier this year and scored a goal against Tanzania.
Tusker FC’s goal-scoring sensation Ryan Ogam has opened up about the pressure he felt to score his maiden goal for Harambee Stars during their Mapinduzi Cup campaign in the Pemba Islands earlier this year.
Ogam found the back of the net in Kenya’s 2-0 victory over Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars, marking his first goal for the national team during a tournament that was initially intended as a build-up to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The competition was later postponed from February to August.
Despite his appearances for Harambee Stars consisting of local-based players, meaning his caps are categorized as ‘Kenya B’ and not FIFA-recognized, Ogam emphasized the significance of carrying his club form onto the international stage.
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“There was pressure, but I wanted to actually do it because otherwise, people would have said I was only scoring in the KPL but not internationally,” Ogam told the media last week after winning the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality award for January.
“It was not a lot of pressure, but I wanted to score,” he added.
Ogam’s impact in the FKF Premier League has been nothing short of extraordinary. In his debut season, he has netted 15 goals in 16 matches, earning back-to-back Tusker Player of the Month accolades, alongside multiple fan-voted awards.
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Tusker’s Ryan Ogam has set an obliterating goal-target for the club this season despite interest from Algerian outfit.
His goal-scoring prowess has made him one of the most talked-about young talents in Kenyan football.
Football runs in Ogam’s blood. The 20-year-old is the son of former Gor Mahia defender David Rabuok, a player that, interestingly, Tusker head coach Charles Okere coached during his final years at Ngara Pelico.
Growing up, Ogam was a keen observer of the local football scene, with one player standing out as a major influence—Michael Olunga.
“I used to watch Olunga a lot, especially when he was at Gor Mahia. To get to where he now is in his career is a testament to his hard work, and I would love to follow in his footsteps,” Ogam revealed.
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The young striker credits his experience playing as a forward at Kakamega and Dagoretti, as well as the coaching he has received at various clubs, for shaping his current form.
With his meteoric rise in Kenyan football, Ogam’s next goal will be to cement his place in the national team and eventually earn his first official cap for Harambee Stars. If his current trajectory is anything to go by, he could be well on his way to following in the footsteps of his idol, Olunga.
