Ryan Ogam Discloses Why Champions League Winner Benni McCarthy is The Perfect Coach for Him

Harambee Stars forward Ryan Ogam has opened up about how having a former striker as his coach has elevated his game.

‎Harambee Stars striker Ryan Ogam is thankful that he has a former striker as his national team coach in Benni McCarthy.

‎Ogam is among players who have been benefiting from McCarthy's arrival in Kenya with the former South Africa striker helping him improve his game.

‎The Tusker FC forward played under McCarthy for the first time at the soon-to-conclude CHAN 2024 tournament, where he scored two match-winning goals against Morocco and Zambia.

‎It comes after the former Manchester United first-team coach expressed his delight at having the young forward at his disposal, saying Ogam "could run a brick wall for him" and the striker has opened up about his relationship with his national team boss.

‎"He is not just a coach, but a former player who achieved everything at the highest level," Ogam told Telecomasia over how he views McCarthy.

‎"He won the Champions League, is the highest scorer in his country and has coached my favourite team Manchester United.

‎"To get to hear such words from him not only motivate but inspire me. It pushes me to give more than 100 percent on the pitch and ensure I don’t let him down."

‎Ogam will hope to keep learning from the former AmaZulu and Cape Town City coach as he has been included in the Harambee Stars squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles in Nairobi in September.

‎The 21-year-old is also reported to be close to sealing a move to Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsburger and will be leaning heavily on McCarthy for advise as he makes the jump from Kenya to Europe.