Tusker forward Ryan Ogam, who made his Harambee Stars debut in January, has explained how he was able to overcome his three-month spell on the sidelines following a knee injury.
Tusker forward Ryan Ogam has detailed the mental and emotional toll of a three-month injury layoff that threatened to derail a career in top gear.
The striker was forced to undergo surgery in February after suffering a meniscus injury at the height of a blistering season, in which he had already scored 15 goals by the end of January.
Ogam, one of the breakout stars of the 2024/2025 FKF Premier League season, had set a personal target of hitting 30 goals by the end of the campaign.
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Ogam: It Was Difficult Being Sidelined
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His form drew interest from Algerian giants USM Alger and was central to Tusker’s title push—until injury struck.
“I did not think it would be this difficult, especially after surgery,” Ogam told Tusker's club media. “Every player enjoys being on the pitch, so seeing others playing while I was unable to was challenging.”
The striker admitted that the time away from football affected him deeply, forcing him to temporarily disconnect from the game. “At first, I didn’t even want to do anything football-related. I just wanted to bond with family,” he said.
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But Ogam eventually found strength in support from family and friends, and in revisiting his own highlights to stay mentally sharp.
“I was watching my videos to remind myself who I was,” he revealed. “I also spoke with people to motivate me, which helped a lot.”
The injury not only halted his club momentum, but also put a pause on a promising international breakthrough.
Ogam: God Has Given Me Another Chance
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In January, Ogam scored his first goal for the Harambee Stars during a 2–0 win over Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars in the Mapinduzi Cup—a proud moment in his young career.
“It was something I will forever cherish,” Ogam said of the goal, which confirmed his rising status as one of Kenya’s most exciting attacking prospects.
Now back in training and aiming for full match fitness, Ogam is focused on finishing strong with Tusker and making the national squad for the upcoming CHAN 2024 tournament.
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“It has been the most difficult part of my journey. I was out for almost four months, but I’m grateful that God has given me another chance,” he said.
“In life, there is falling and there is rising — and rising is what I want to focus on.”
With CHAN around the corner and Tusker in need of his firepower, Ryan Ogam’s comeback story is just getting started.