Tusker's Ogam eyeing FKF-PL Golden Boot

 Tusker FC striker Ryan Wesley Ogam believes he can score 30 goals this season and bag the Kenyan Premier League Golden Boot.

The youthful attacker missed three matches at the start of the season, but has gone ahead to score 12 goals in 10 matches which gives him the confidence in his pursuit for the accolade.

Five goals above second best scorer in the league Francis Kahiro, Ogam knows he would probably have scored more had he featured in the Kenya Police, FC Talanta and Ulinzi Stars matches earlier in the season.

"I'm happy to be in this form, I had set a target of 15 goals in the first round and so I'm just three goals from it. I'm hopeful I can make it 13 or 14 in our next match when we meet Posta Rangers before the league takes a break.

"Were it not for the injury that kept me out of three matches, I am sure I would have hit my first leg target by now," averred Ogam.

"If I can stay injury free in the second leg and hopefully keep the form, I'm sure I can hit 30 goals. Importantly, it would be more rewarding if my goals give us the points we need to win the League.

"It would be such a good feeling to emerge the top scorer with over 30 goals and win the league title with Tusker. I'm glad my goals are currently giving the team crucial points," he added.

The former Green Commandos player opened his top-tier league goal account in the second match of the season, scoring a brace against Kariobangi Sharks though the Brewers lost 3-2.

He then followed it up with two goals against Kakamega Homeboyz at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos to make it four goals in three league matches.

After suffering an injury, Ogam returned against KCB at the end of October to bag a goal in the game - extending his tally to five goals though they fell 3-2 to the bankers.

He then added two more in the matches against Nairobi City Stars and Mara Sugar to make it seven, before netting a hat-trick against Murang’a SEAL.

He missed to hit the back of the net against Mathare United but came back stronger against Bidco United, netting two goals to take his tally to 12.

The forward who started his career at Laser Galaxy before moving to Sunrise of Umoja Estate, Nairobi, says he has settled ‘easily’ and ‘very fast’ at Tusker - with the help of coach Charles Okere.

"I first met Okere [Charles] in the Youth development team in 2017 and by then I was playing as a left full-back. We met again when I joined Rainbow which was in Division II then, before we got promoted to Division I and later to National Super League. I would see him at the stands.

"This time I was playing as an attacking midfielder and after I joined Tusker, he said he was going to deploy me as a striker because he saw my scoring ability," recalled Ogam.

The former Dagoretti High School student joined Tusker after his six-month loan spell with Elite Falcons in Dubai ended in July. 

With deals to move to the United States and Sweden collapsing mid this year, he says Tusker’s offer came at the right time.

"After my time ended in Dubai, there were plans to take me either to the USA or Sweden. Both deals were being worked on and I decided to rejoin Rainbow which was in the NSL and ended up playing the second leg for them.

"During the off season, Tusker approached and I decided to join as I waited for the abroad deals, but nothing came forth so I decided to join Tusker. I'm now settled, building a name for myself while giving the best for my club," explained a smiling Ogam.

His good form earned him a call-up to Harambee Stars during in November, being among the new 11 players that had been called up by immediate former coach Engin Firat for a crucial CHAN qualifier return-leg match against South Sudan.

The match would end in a 1-1 draw, a result that saw the newest nation in Africa qualify for the next phase on a 3-1 aggregate.

Despite not making it to the return leg squad in Uganda, Ogam says he was ready to give his best , and hopes another chance will come for him to represent Kenya internationally.