There are two moments in Chiedozie Ogbene’s career that he is particularly proud of, leaving aside his achievement in becoming the first player born in Africa to play for the Republic of Ireland.
One is the time he sought out the mobile phone number of Limerick FC manager Martin Russell and sorted out a move for himself away from the comfort zone of his home club, Cork City. His success at Limerick led to him being snapped up by Brentford, but he grew frustrated by the lack of game time there and was similarly proactive in switching to Rotherham United, which has got him to where he is today.
“I went to see Rotherham playing Wimbledon and stood around after the game to introduce myself to the manager [Paul Warne]. He makes fun of me about it to this day,” Ogbene says. “It was all very professional, but I just showed my interest and that I was serious about the move and keen to be part of their team. The manager respects me for doing that.”
As he is into the last year of his contract at Rotherham, Ogbene may have another big call to make shortly, but he has good form in that regard and most Ireland fans would like to think that it extends to international football as well. Having long harboured an ambition to play for Nigeria, where he lived some of his formative years until the age of seven, Ogbene eventually came to the realisation that his international future lay closer to home.
“Leading up to declaring for Ireland a lot of thoughts played on my mind. My parents are proud Nigerians and they would have loved to see me represent Nigeria because they grew up there and their family and a lot of their friends are there, but they understood that I grew up in Ireland and saw how proud the coaches were who had helped me along the way.
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“I think it was a decision that benefitted myself and my family. My parents are extremely happy to see how happy I am and to really feel part of the community, especially with people down in Cork.”
It has been said that Ogbene’s father stopped off in Cork on his way to the US and decided to stay, but Ogbene says that story is as unlikely as it sounds. “He was quite happy to bring us to Ireland where it is a lot more peaceful [than the US]. He wanted some peace. He wanted to be a nurse and be in a good environment, so his work circumstances are probably the reason he came to Ireland.”
Ogbene says he found the GAA experience with his school, Colaiste Chriost Ri, and his club, Nemo Rangers, particularly enriching, but eventually it was time to move on.
“I took a lot of pride in beating your local rivals and trying to win the Munsters and other competitions. I prolonged my stay in the game till I was 18, when a county-final replay clashed with playing for the Cork City under-19s. Nemo understand now and they always reach out to me, they are very happy for me.
“The friends you make and the society of the GAA was unbelievable, but football was something I always wanted to pursue.”
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There was one spot of racist trouble from an opponent, but Ogbene makes light of it now. “I do understand that people try every trick in the book to force their opponent to react, but I was always prepared for that. The guy who said it was young and as an older person I am quite friendly with him now actually.
“Most of the stuff is what you learn from society and it is not ingrained in them, but I didn’t have much of that in Ireland. I was truly blessed in the environment that I grew up in.”
Fast forward ten years, to a different country and a different code and Ogbene was shaken by the reaction of the Hungary crowd to Ireland players taking a knee before he was about to make his international debut in a friendly game in Budapest back in May.
“Our aim to kick out discrimination was just shattered by what I saw by the display of the fans, jeering us, whistling at us taking the knee. It was quite embarrassing and it was disappointing to see,” says Ogbene, one of a new generation of black players born or grown up in Ireland who are now breaking through to the national side.
“It is good to see the diversity in the team but when I go to the camp, the players don’t see it like that. We all see each other as one. Irishmen. Maybe somebody from Galway will laugh at my Cork accent. They don’t ask me, ‘Where are you from?’ We are all making fun of each other because we are proud Irishmen representing our country. It’s a good environment to be in.”
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Ultimately, however, Ogbene wants to be judged on his abilities as a footballer and while he is already reaping the benefits from years of hard work, he still has much to do at the age of 24. In a successful Rotherham team he has been playing more as a wing back, pushing ahead of three central defenders.
“I am quite comfortable in terms of defending, especially in one v ones. My God-given pace does throw off a lot of wingers from taking me on. It’s a position I am still trying to learn, especially covering the centre back when they all push across, but I have always been prepared to work on my weaknesses and I have also learned to be more patient.”
Stephen Kenny sees a more attacking role for him for the Ireland team and his first goal of the season came from a header when he came on as a substitute against Azerbaijan last month in Baku.
“I do have a bit more freedom in terms of going forward,” Ogbene says of his role under Kenny. “He just told me to use my abilities and the pace that I have to press high up the pitch and try to win the ball. To enjoy myself, that is the key thing.
“He told me that I didn’t get here by luck but by merit so he made it clear that he wanted me to express myself and show the fans what I am capable of. At international level you are playing with top-class players like Jeff Hendrick and when you make a run they are able to see it. I wouldn’t say it is easier, but they make me look better than I am.”
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At least one minibus-load of supporters coming up from Cork this week will disagree with that sentiment, but otherwise Ogbene will have their full support.
