Osman keen to fashion out Firhill victory
THE slogan emblazoned across Abdul Osman’s hat reads: ‘It’s Not Easy’. It is a sentiment that could easily relate to Partick Thistle’s 25-year wait for a victory over Rangers, tonight’s visitors to Firhill. Or even the Maryhill captain’s own recent five-month spell out of the game with injury.
The real story behind it, however, is that it was a simple piece of advice given to the 30-year-old midfielder by his mother when he was growing up.
And during his recent extended lay-off from the game, he named his new clothing range after the slogan that has inspired his career and his comeback from injury.
The ‘It’s Not Easy’ designs have featured on the popular Sky Sports show
Soccer AM and caught the eye of Manchester United’s Paul Pogba.
The world’s joint-third most expensive footballer — and brother to former Thistle striker Mathias Pogba — gave Osman his backing by promoting his wares to his 20.7million followers (below) on Instagram.
‘You have a lot of free time on your hands when you are out for so long,’ explained Osman.
‘I saw our goalkeeper Tomas Cerny reading books in the changing room but my passion is fashion, so I thought why not start something and see how it gets on?
‘It’s been going all right so far and I’ve been getting a lot of support, from guys like Paul Pogba. He was around when I was down in Manchester seeing Mathias. He asked me about my stuff and said he liked it and asked me to send some things through.
‘I gave him a hat and a t-shirt. I didn’t think he’d wear them but he stuck it up on social media. It really took off! There’s been loads of interest. Carlton Cole was also on Soccer
AM wearing it as well, so a few people are liking it and it’s going well.
‘The name comes from my mum. She’s always told me to work hard in life in whatever you want to do, whether it’s football or anything else. It’s not easy — it’s as simple as that.
‘It’s a new direction but I am fully concentrated on playing football.
‘It’s just something that might be good for when I finish playing.’
Now he is over the shoulder issue that cost him the first half of the season, Osman is aiming to be dressed for success when he pulls on his Thistle shirt tonight. The Maryhill side, however, have not won a Glasgow derby against Rangers since May 4, 1993, at Firhill. Back then, the Jags were desperately needing a victory to stay in the Premier Division, and romped to a 3-0 win with goals from Ray Farningham, Grant Tierney and Gerry Britton. ‘It’s been 20-odd years since we beat Rangers? Wow! I don’t know what I was doing 20 years ago. I was probably back in Africa,’ said the Ghanaian. ‘It’s a long time but we’ve been unlucky in a few games against them recently. Last season there was a couple of lastminute goals, which was disappointing. It’s been close this year as well but we know they are a team we can beat.’ Thistle boss Alan Archibald is hoping to end the hex against Rangers tonight before Saturday’s Scottish Cup trip to face Celtic at Parkhead. But he warned his defenders to beware of Alfredo Morelos, the Colombian striker who was the subject of a failed £8million bid from Chinese side Beijing Renhe last week. ‘Morelos is a handful and I know from speaking to our defenders he is a tough customer who doesn’t mind mixing it up. No doubt he’ll get his move, whether it’s this window or whenever,’ he said. ‘It’s unusual to face Rangers and Celtic after they have both lost at the weekend. You never know what you are going to get after the Old Firm have lost a match. But we need to be at our best. ‘It would be nice to end our drought in this fixture. We’ve ran Rangers close a few times here especially in the last few seasons and not always got what we’ve deserved. But our home form has been good all season, so hopefully that will help us get a result.’