From club outcast to Harambee Stars hero: Ryan Ogam speaks on Estonia loss and club snub
By Luke Oluoch, March 28, 2026Harambee Stars’ budding striker Ryan Ogam has had a difficult spell at his Austrian Bundesliga side, Wolfsberger AC.
Following his much-publicised move to the Austrian top tier, Ogam recently faced a career-defining setback when he was demoted from the senior team to the club’s reserves.
Scoring return
Turning that setback into a springboard, Ogam was one of Kenya’s few bright spots upon his return to international duty as Kenya faced Estonia in a FIFA Series friendly in Rwanda on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The former Tusker FC ace notched a brilliant equaliser to draw Kenya level with a well-taken weak-foot finish. Despite the overall result, a penalty shootout loss, he stated it was a performance to be proud of.
“It was a good game; we played according to the instructions from the coach. It was just down to bad luck that we lost on penalties,” he stated.
After a shaky first half, Ogam said the message from coach Benni McCarthy was key to summoning the spirit that saw the team claw back into the tie. They came within inches of upending the Estonians before bowing out in the shootout.
“The message was that we play with passion and more purpose and try to move the ball more quickly. We had a poor start, but we later settled in. We put in more energy, the tactics were good, and when we did that, it made the difference,” he said.
Snubbed by club
On a personal note, Ogam registered his elation with his scoring return, backing his seventh international goal to boost his confidence further.
“It is a good feeling. I am thankful to God. It has been a difficult spell over the past six months. This goal will give me more confidence for the games ahead,” he added.
He also shared that maintaining a positive outlook amid the club snub was key to keeping his form.
“It has all been about preparation even through the tough time. I have always remained prepared and ready. I have been doing that, so when the coach called on me today, I was determined to repay that trust,” he stated.