At the start of the season, Ryan Ogam was an unsettled figure. The Tusker FC forward had been the subject of huge transfer speculation, as several clubs battled for his signature just less than six months after he joined the Brewers.
Ogam had been in red hot form, and in just the first leg, had scored 15 goals and provided two assists, sitting pretty at the top of the FKF Premier League golden boot race. He had been signed at Tusker at the start of the season from the defunct Rainbow FC which played in the second tier.
Coach Charles Okere had turned him from a midfielder to a striker, and the gamble had paid off as he scored for fun, taking Tusker FC to the top of the standings.
His form had attracted suitors, and one of the most concrete offers on the Tusker FC table were Algerian side USM Alger who had been open to buying out his contract at his club.
However, Tusker were reluctant to sell their best asset in the middle of fighting for the Premier League title, coming just a few weeks after they had been forced to see their top assist giver Shaphan Siwa leave for free at the end of his contract.
A push and pull ensued between player and club and ultimately, when the transfer window closed, he remained at Ruaraka. However, just a few weeks later, he was ruled out for three months after an injury on his knee forced him to surgery.
And now, Ogam, who has just returned to full training after recovering from surgery has opened up on his difficult spell, both battling injury and the transfer drama that started his year.
He speaks exclusively to Telecomasia.net, admitting how the drama destabilized him and opens up on the difficulty of being out for three months with injury.
- You started the year in quite some dramatic fashion with all the transfer speculation. Did it affect you?
- Yes at the start of the year, there were a lot of stories and so many transfers had come up. Even now, there are still more coming. At that time, there are some things that maybe didn’t happen as I had wanted and we couldn’t agree on terms with the club and of course yeah it affected me some bit. It bothered me because at times I thought I had landed a good deal but then circumstances prevented and I would be discouraged at some point.
- How did you managed to weave through these moments?
- In life, and in football, everything has a positive side and a negative side. If you choose to focus on the negative, then things will be difficult for you. I just want to thank my parents, my advisors and my management because they really motivated me and encouraged me that even though these had gone, there will be more opportunities coming up and they urged me to focus and work hard to attract more. I just decided to not focus on what had not worked out but look at the future.
- Speaking about the future, what does it hold for you?
- As at now, I am a Tusker FC player and the focus is 100 percent on the remaining two games of the season then we see what comes on the table. We will look at everything that comes with my representatives and my family and then we can pick on what is the best for my future. But as at now, my focus is on 100 percent to finish the season well and help the team get a good placing on the table.
- It has been a roller-coaster year for you, being out injured for almost four months but now you are back. How does it feel for you?
- Wow it really feels great to be back playing football and in full training. It has not been an easy journey since February when I underwent surgery. Almost four months without playing football but I am now here; I can sprint, I can turn, I can make a pass, I can shoot… it feels golden.
- How difficult has this period been for you?
- It has really been difficult from when I heard the news that I would require surgery and I will be out for 9-10 weeks. I didn’t think it would have been this difficult especially after surgery. As a player, you always want to be on the pitch playing and when you see others doing that and you are outside, it is very difficult. But I thank my family and friends because they really supported me and kept me okay mentally.
- The injury came at a really tough time when you were on top of your game and the golden boot dream being a reality. Did this make it even more difficult?
- At the start of the season, I had set a target of scoring 30 goals but then it was cut short. It was really difficult for me. I was watching all our games and it was really painful to see that you could do something for the team to get wins and points but then it is impossible. I had already scored 15 goals and I wanted to push more in the second leg and achieve more but it was unfortunate I couldn’t. But now, I am back with two matches to go and if the coaches give me a chance, I hope that I can achieve something even with few minutes. I will try and push and see what comes.
- During this period, how did you manage to stay afloat?
- I decided to use the time to be closer to family, friends and just try to have happy moments. It was really disturbing mentally and you have to know how to handle yourself because the mental part is one of the most important in football. I had been watching my videos from the first leg and just reminding myself who I am and also tried to speak to people who would encourage me and keep hope alive. That really helped me a lot.
This has been the most challenging part of my football journey so far because this is the injury that has kept me out for longest. I am thankful I have overcome and I look at it as a second chance. Every journey has challenges and there is falling and rising. The rising part is the most important in any career and this is what I am focused on at the moment, to ensure that I rise well.
I want to work hard, push beyond my limits to ensure that I get back to good shape and start scoring again. I am working well in training, scoring some goals and that has really motivated me.
- Injury is one of the most challenging problems of a sportsman. Having been there, gone through it and now come back, what advice would you give to fellow sportsmen who are going through similar challenges?
- Injury is part of a sports career and you never know when it will come. You just need to keep focus because the injury will heal and your career will continue. You have to ensure you are always motivated. Even if nothing keeps you happy, just ensure you have a smile on and you make your own happiness. Challenges and injuries will always be there. Just focus on recovery and rising because life has to go on.
