OGBENE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A STAR

Caulfield: He had self-confidence inner strength. I’m not surprised he and great made it

ALL his managers have said the same thing about Chiedozie Ogbene.

From the one who gave him his international debut, to the one who signed him from the English football scrapheap, to the man who started the whole thing off for him in 2015, when he played his first game of senior football as an 18-year-old.

“I saw potential,” says ex-cork City manager

John Caulfield (right) of a teenage Ogbene.

“His attitude was as good as I saw in any player, ever.

“His self-confidence, his inner strength, was incredible. I am not surprised where he is at now, not one bit, because I always felt he would make it.

“Some would call it arrogance. I wouldn’t. It was self-belief. There is a difference.

“We had high hopes he would drive it on with Cork City,” says Caulfield, “but Limerick offered him more money and he decided to go.”

This is the part of the Ogbene story that needs telling. At so many different junctures, he could have taken the wrong turn.

Ogbene left and gave his reasons for doing so afterwards: “I have done a bit of research on how long it would take young players to break into the first team,” he said. “It’s never easy.

“So when you you are playing well, you have to maintain it. You lose momentum if you stay on the bench for half a year.

“I know it’s hard to leave your previous club but these are the sacrifices you have to make if you want to make it to the next level.”

Having ambition is one thing. Fulfilling it is another. After Limerick, came Brentford.

The Chiedozie Ogbene story could have ended there as things didn’t go well but even then Caulfield knew there would be another chapter.

He added: “He has shown strength throughout his career. He went to Exeter on loan, then Rotherham. That’s where it takes off for him.

“He has been a late developer. When he first emerged, senior players would have seen him as young and cocky. But to be fair, he has delivered. You admire that about anyone. To see him make it in the Premier Division with Luton Town is incredible. I’m proud of him,” says Caulfield.