Ryan Ogam: How Harambee Stars Forward Turned from Midfielder to Lethal Striker in Months

Rayan Ogam is reportedly close to sealing a deal to Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsburger but this might perhaps not have happened were it not for a tactical change.

Ogam has excelled as a striker since joining Tusker FC ahead of last season from now defunct second tier club Rainbow FC and extended his goalscoring exploits to Harambee Stars at the CHAN 2024 tournament.

The 21-year-old started life at Tusker in brilliant fashion as he scored 15 goals in his first 13 games and led the FKF Premier League Golden Boot race until an injury in February this year slowed him down.

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Ogam would miss three months of action after knee surgery and the fact that the top scorer Moses Shumah had 17 goals, just two more than him, is testament to his qualities.

He was fit just in time for Harambee Stars at CHAN 2024 where he was Kenya’s joint top scorer with two goals and he is now reported to be close to moving to Europe.

However, few know that Ogam signed for Tusker as a midfielder and it was only after his new coaches noticed his great eye for goal that they decided to change his position, a decision that has paid off massively for both club and player.

“I can say it was a huge success, and easily the best season I have had in football,” Ogam told Telecomasia.net of his remarkable campaign.

“When I joined Tusker, I didn’t know I was going to play as a striker. I came in knowing I would still be playing in my midfield role but in training, the coach put me in as a striker. I quickly changed my mindset and framed myself to think and play as a striker.”

Ogam admits he did not expect to perform as exceptionally as he has done after the tactical tweak but grew in confidence when the goals started coming.

“I didn’t expect to score those many goals but once they started coming in, I picked up the confidence and kept scoring. I am thankful for everything that happened. It has been a process of learning and relearning and being mentally strong,” he added.

“I look at my return to the national team as a second chance to prove myself and I am glad I did my best. I am not taking this tournament lightly and it will forever live in my memory,” the striker further said, lauding CHAN 2024 for lifting his stature.

Ogam has since earned the trust of Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, who has been impressed by his attitude, since he showed up for training while still nursing an injury in March.

“I also want to thank the coach. As a former striker, he’s been pushing me to get back to my best level — and even better,” Ogam said of McCarthy recently.

As he waits to finalise his transfer to Austria, Ogam will turn his attention to Kenya’s World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles in September.