Latest news with #Ogbene
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Chiedozie Ogbene named Ipswich 'Community Champion' - 'It was close to home because my little sister's Down syndrome'
Ireland's Dara O'Shea was the headline winner, named Ipswich Men's Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards on Monday. But there was a surprise award too for his international teammate Chiedozie Ogbene, underlining the regard the club already has for the popular Corkman, despite him playing just six times since his move from Luton Town. Ogbene's season was cut short last October when he ruptured his Achilles against Brentford. But the current Ireland player of the year was named Ipswich's PFA Community Champion of the Year, alongside women's player Natasha Thomas. After his injury, Ogbene approached the club to see if there was a way he could contribute off the field, while unable to play a part on it. And after attending several events on behalf of the club's disability programme, he was named Ipswich's Disability Ambassador. The award recognises his work in the role. Speaking at the awards night, Ogbene revealed the motivation for his involvement was partly his younger sister's Down syndrome, but also a sense of joy that he can impact lives by giving a few minutes of his time. "When I joined this programme, it's because it brought me a lot of joy. It was close to home because my little sister's Down syndrome, so I was doing this for my own benefit, so I can truly bond with her. "So I am really, really grateful for this recognition of my work off the pitch. "I'm in a privileged position. Professional footballers, we're in a privileged position to influence the younger generation. "There's something in my head that I get so much joy by being a small part in anyone's life and trying to change their life. "Thirty minutes that I spend with them, it changes their life, and it has a massive impact on them. I've met some amazing people in this programme, and they've taught me a lot on how I can interact better with my little sister. "It's something that I went in with the mindset of wanting to learn, and I've come out with some really good experiences in it." It mightn't be the typical reaction to a heartbreaking injury that has already kept him out of action for six months, but Ogbene's instinct was to make himself useful to the club in some way. "That's just the family I come from. My parents always embedded in me to be humble and to give back to the community and to give back to the people around me. "Since I became the first African-born player to play for Ireland I see how much it means to kids. "I see myself as just a regular guy, Chieo, but what I can do on and off the pitch can change their lives so I just wanted to offer myself another way. "It's helped me as well. It's helped me pass time, it's helped me with my injury. Because I have other stuff to focus on. It was a pleasure for myself as well. "It makes me happy that I am able to interact with different groups and learn from them as much as they are learning from me." Ogbene has found it particularly moving to be so warmly appreciated at the club despite his limited playing time. "It's magic. I play six games for Ipswich, but I mean a lot to some of these guys at the programmes, and that's what's helped me go through it, and that's why I do what I do. "Even playing six games, they know my name and they know who I am, it's what makes me keep going. You know, I'm truly grateful to be in this privileged position that I am in." And the end-of-season award was the surprise silver lining in a difficult season. "I was overwhelmed, like, I couldn't believe it. I'm not playing and stuff. I was actually scratching my head, because I've been injured, like. I was just actually caught off guard."
Irish Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Chiedozie Ogbene injury latest as World Cup campaign takes sharper focus
Chiedozie Ogbene is pulling out all the stops to be fit for the start of next season. And the Corkman has told Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson that he wants to be part of his World Cup plans in September. Ogbene hasn't played for Ipswich Town since October having had surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon that prematurely ended his season. And the 28-year-old could only look on as the Tractor Boys were relegated back to the Championship. Ogbene hasn't played for Ireland since the Nations League win in Finland and defeat away to Greece in mid-October. And while he won't be involved next month either, against Senegal and Luxembourg, Ogbene is targeting the first World Cup qualifier at home to Hungary on September 6. Yesterday, Hallgrimsson revealed the positive discussions he held with the former League of Ireland ace about next season. 'I spoke to him last week and he is starting to run and he wants to be ahead of the guys in pre-season,' said the Icelander. 'I think he is going to be really ready when it comes to pre-season. He wants to be the fittest. Hopefully we will have everyone ready for September and no serious injuries.' Hallgrimsson admits a flying fit Ogbene would greatly enhance Ireland's prospects of doing well in a group containing heavyweights Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. Hallgrimsson added: 'He's such an amazing person, always smiling, happy and optimistic. 'With an injury like this you always need to see more positives. It's easy to get dragged down mentally but he's an optimistic person in general. It's always nice to call him. From talking to him yesterday he had some stories to tell! He's in a good moment."
