ALI OSMAN (1944-2026)
Legasi Lagenda ingin mengucapkan salam takziah kepada keluarga bekas penjaga gol Malaysia, Allahyarham Ali Osman, yang telah menghembuskan nafas terakhir awal pagi tadi.
Dilahirkan di Pulau Pinang, Ali Osman merupakan penjaga gol Perlis dan Malaysia pada tahun 1960-70-an. Seorang yang rendah diri, Ali Osman tidak pernah mengejarkan kemasyhuran tetapi bekerja keras dalam bidang bola sepak dan mengatakan bahawa tugasnya adalah sebagai menjalankan sebuah tanggungjawab.
Beliau mula dipilih oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Pulau Pinang semasa mereka sedang mencari bakat baharu pada tahun 1962. Walaupun Ali Osman bermain sebagai penyerang tengah pada zaman belianya, beliau hanya dapat bermain sebagai penjaga gol pada hari pemilihan kerana ia merupakan satu-satunya posisi yang masih belum diisi.
Tidak puas di atas bangku pemain simpanan Pulau Pinang, Ali Osman terus menerima tawaran kerja dengan JKR di Perlis pada tahun 1964 dan dipanggil oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Perlis pada tahun yang sama. Walaupun Perlis tidak berjaya dalam kejohanan Piala Malaya ataupun Piala FAM, tahun tersebut menjadi kemenangan peribadi bagi Ali Osman yang merasakan bahawa beliau akhirnya dapat mempamerkan bakatnya.
Ali Osman kemudian membuat penampilan sulung antarabangsa bersama Malaysia di Piala Raja Thai 1969. Ketika Harimau Malaya penuh dengan pemain-pemain yang hebat, Ali Osman sering diturunkan sebagai penjaga gol kedua pasukan. Namun, beliau masih dapat mewakili Malaysia dalam pelbagai kejohanan antarabangsa, termasuk Pra-Olimpik, Pestabola Merdeka, Piala Kemerdekaan Vietnam Selatan dan Kejohanan Ulang Tahun Jakarta.
Setelah bersara sebagai pemain, Ali Osman tetap menyumbang kepada bola sepak Malaysia dengan melatih pasukan belia Perlis bagii Piala Razak.
Kami berharap segala kejayaan and pengorbanan Ali Osman akan sentiasa diingati dan menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi akan datang. Semoga roh Allahyarham dicucuri rahmat Allah SWT dan ditempatkan bersama orang yang beriman.
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Born in Penang, Ali Osman was well known as Perlis and Malaysia’s goalkeeper in the 1960-70s. A humble man, Ali Osman never pursued fame and glory but worked hard throughout his football career, stating that it felt like a responsibility.
Ali was first scouted by Penang FA while they were looking for new talents in 1962. Although he played as a centre forward during his youth, he found himself as a goalkeeper on selection day as it was the only position that was yet to be filled.
Finding himself underutilised with Penang, Ali did not think twice when he was offered a job with JKR in Perlis and was immediately called up by Perlis FA to play in the same year. While Perlis did not have a successful year, it was a personal victory for Ali who felt that he was finally able to showcase his talents.
Ali then made his international debut with Malaysia at the 1969 Thai King’s Cup. At a time where Harimau Malaya had more than enough talent to go around, Ali Osman was often relegated as the team’s second goalkeeper. However, he did represent Malaysia in various international tournaments, which also included the Pre-Olympics, Merdeka Tournament, South Vietnam Independence Cup and the Jakarta Anniversary Tournament.
After retiring as a player, Ali Osman continued contributing to Malaysian football by coaching Perlis’ youth team at the Razak Cup.
We hope that all of Ali Osman’s sacrifices and successes will always be remembered and become an inspiration for future generations. Let us all pray that his soul is showered with Allah SWT’s blessings and for him to be placed among the believers.
