'I did everything that I could do' - Chiezdozie Ogbene out to put frustrating season behind him

TOUGH TIMES: Chiedozie Ogbene during a Republic of Ireland training session at La Finca Resort in Alicante. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Heimir Hallgrímsson was urging his new Ireland newcomers to visualise pictures on the training ground, but all Chiedozie Ogbene could foresee this week was belatedly starting a game.

Grenada are ranked 163 in Fifa’s standings and only 1,000 fans are expected in Murcia, yet the friendly means so much to the Corkman following the most frustrating season of the 29-year-old’s career.

His 2026 club gametime amounts to 39 minutes over three substitute appearances.

Kieran McKenna’s purpose of sending his Ipswich Town winger to fellow Championship side Sheffield United to regain his match fitness never materialised.

That was blamed squarely by Blades manager Chris Wilder on the restriction of loan players they were permitted to use in matchday squads.

For the second half of the season, Ogbene’s fitness for the World Cup playoff in Czechia relied on pedestrian U21 club games.

Most of that squad from March were excused from this first phase of the summer friendlies but the man from Grange was determined to be involved in all three games against Grenada, Qatar and Canada over the next fortnight.

His infectious, bubbly personality was also vital over the week-long training camp in La Finca as a means of putting at ease a glut of nine uncapped players.

“I needed to push myself to ensure I'm one of those five loan players in the squad, rather than just sitting back, saying it's the manager's fault,” he reasoned.

“I always wanted to ensure that I forced the manager to make me fight to get a spot, but it just never happened for me.

“At least I can look back and say; 'I did everything that I could do - everything that I could control to try to be in the team'. That's what I felt.

“If I didn't do that, I always look at myself and say 'I could have done more', but I don't think there's any more I could have really controlled.”

As a learning experience, patience was his watchword.

“I've never been in this position where I haven't played many league games, playing 21s and trying to keep myself topping up,” he added.

“But to act like a champion daily when you're not getting any joy, that's something I really learned because I haven't been put in that position before.

“I really tested my character to be able to do extras, choose to play with the 21s to make myself available for the national team. And that's something that I learned about myself.”

Where it leaves him now is the pertinent question. Ipswich achieved their mission of bouncing straight back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Similar to two years ago when they lured Ogbene from relegated Luton Town, reinforcements will be invested in to avoid slipping down again. His future appears to hinge on whether the Tractor Boys lean on a counter-attacking approach to achieve survival.

“If Ipswich opt to go for a transitional based style, I would hope that I would be part of the plans,” he says after returning to his parent club.

Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Coventry, and Jack Moylan, during a Republic of Ireland training session. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

“If not, I'll always be ready for whatever. I think I might be of use in the Premier League with the way I play, the way my game is on the pitch.

“On the second time around, you're always going to be wiser than the first time around and Kieran McKenna is a phenomenal manager. He’s worked at Manchester United, so he'll know what's required.

“I don't know what he's thinking but I'm sure Ipswich will be better prepared especially going to the Premier League, coming down, going back up. They know the margins are very tight so will be pushing to tighten up in each position.”

Hallgrímsson intends using all of his 16 outfield players over the 90-minute runout, albeit Eiran Cashin’s debut is delayed by a hamstring twinge he felt during Friday’s final preparatory session.

"The difference from Tuesday’s training game against Murcia is that we'll try to play higher,” said the manager.

“The players are nice and relaxed. They’ve had a long season, but we gave them afternoons off following training in the morning and most played golf.

“Even though it’s nice to have training, there is always more value in having a game to play so I’m happy Grenada are here.

“They are a physical team, with a lot of speed. Like all Caribbean teams, they have fit players, fast players, they are good on the counter, and I managed Jamaica against them and they were really tough. They loved kicking down the Premier League players we had in Jamaica.”

Ireland team: M O’Leary; D O’Shea (captain), M McGuinness, J Abankwah; J Knight, J Molumby, C Coventry, T Adaramola; C Ogbene, J Moylan; A Idah.