Chiedozie Ogbene: 'I'm privileged to be here, it is a great honour for me and my family'

A dream which started in Cork City’s academy will be realised this week, when Chiedozie Ogbene puts on the green jersey of the Republic Ireland.

The winger, who plays for Rotherham United in England, is set to feature for Ireland in a series of friendlies against Andorra and Hungary.

“My manager at Cork City’s academy, Stephen Bermingham, always told me that if I keep my head down and I keep learning the game, I will get an opportunity,” Ogbene said about his journey to date.

“At that time, it looked quite farfetched, and it was quite hard to believe.  I took everything day by day. I’m very shocked to get this opportunity.

“The first thing I did was look at who wasn’t called up! Which is probably something I shouldn’t have done.

“I’m privileged to be here, it is a great honour for me and my family.”

Ogbene’s story can be traced along the Cork Schoolboys League and into the League of Ireland. He first kicked a ball with Tramore Athletic, before moving to Everton and College Corinthians.

As a teenager, Ogbene played Gaelic Football and won the 2014 Cork u21 Club Football Championship with Nemo Rangers, while helping his school, Colaiste Chriost Ri, win the 2015 Simcox Cup.

After signing for Cork City’s academy, he won the League of Ireland U19 Division title. The following season he lifted the Enda McGuill Cup while playing a key role in City’s run to the second round of the 2016 UEFA Youth League.

Slowly the winger established himself in John Caulfield’s first team and he was rewarded for his work with a substitute appearance in the 2016 FAI Cup final, which City won in the last minute of extra-time.

Ogbene spent the 2017 League of Ireland season at Limerick, before signing for Brenford in England.

It is a sporting journey which has seen the winger make a lot of friends, and each one has called to congratulate him.

“I got a lot of messages from my previous managers and a load of people from Cork and Limerick. I’m so proud to be doing people proud, and I want to do that now for the nation.”

While this is his first time getting called up to the Irish team, Ogbene walked into a dressing room full of familiar voices from his home county.

The collection of Leesiders has helped the 24-year-old settle into life with the Boys in Green.

“I was talking to John Egan earlier and I said this doesn’t feel like my first time being here. The guys are so friendly.

“To be here with John Egan, Adam Idah, and Caoimhin Kelleher really eased my nerves. It helped me gel with the team easier.”