"If I asked him to run through a brick wall he would" - McCarthy's love story with Harambee Stars striker

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy took a moment on Thursday, 21 August to praise his striker Ryan Ogam, following his recent exploits at the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN).

Describing the Tusker forward as a player who would die for him, McCarthy laid down his love for Ogam for all to see, narrating how the striker won his heart.

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Responding to a question centered around Ogam’s progress to the player that is currently Kenya’s joint top-scorer at CHAN, the South African cast his eyes back to the first time the two met.

“When I joined the national team I had one week, maybe three to four days of camp with the players, and Ryan was one of them,” McCarthy said.

“He was nursing a knee injury and was struggling, but he wanted to be there.”

The specific date was 12 March - exactly 13 days after Ogam had suffered a nasty knee injury in the first-half of Tusker’s FKF Premier League tie against Shabana.

As per McCarthy, the fact that the 20-year-old still had the guts to show up for the national team camp, spoke volumes.

“I saw the determination and dedication that he did not want to miss out on an opportunity of getting to know me, or showing me what he had,” McCarthy, speaking ahead of Kenya’s quarter final clash against Madagascar on Friday, said.

“I had to stop him because I could see he was struggling immensely, and he needed an operation.

That went a long way to tell me that that was a player who will die for you when is fit, and a hundred percent ready.”

Prior to naming his squad for CHAN, Ogam announced his return after four months out with injury, featuring in a full half of Tusker's match against Kakamega Homeboyz.

Integrating the striker to his squad became a no-brainer for McCarthy.

“Because he showed that loyalty and dedication to me, it was my duty as a coach to make sure I followed up on his career, and where it led,” McCarthy said.

“For him being 100 percent fit, there was no way that I wasn't going to put him in the side. That was a player who if I asked to run through a brick wall, he would.”

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Following his man-of-the-match performance against Zambia last Sunday, Ogam, was quick to credit McCarthy for showing trust in him, all while he was living through the most disappointing spell in his career.

McCarthy, in a near four-minute speech about Ogam, returned the favor.

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“I am now showing him the same loyalty he gave me, and he is rewarding himself for that dedication,” McCarthy said.

“Every match he gets to play, he is growing, getting better and better. Hopefully tomorrow he gets the nod, he continues with what he is doing. His determination has paid off, and he now finds himself as one of the popular figures in the team.”