Irish forward for Celtic, Adam Idah, disclosed how guidance from an actor contributed to his significant performance in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final. Idah, who entered the game as a substitute, scored the decisive goal against Rangers in the final minute at Hampden, thereby securing the double for his team. He confessed that advice from Shane Casey, actor from Young Offenders and fellow Cork resident, was instrumental.
Interestingly, Shane Casey, an actor in town, had previously spoken to me about the power of positive visualization,” the 23-year-old shared. From his words, I gathered the courage to believe in my ability to score, and that made the difference in the end. This strategy is something I plan to hold on to in future games.
No matter the match, whether I’m playing from the start or coming in as a substitute, I always deeply believe that I’ll make a successful strike. It’s crucial for a striker to possess this level of confidence to deliver goals,” he stated.
Idah capitalized on a missed catch from Jack Butland’s swerving strike, scoring from a close range, and celebrating with his Celtic fan base. He admitted his difficulty in finding the correct expressions to describe how it felt. The sight of elated fans and their affection was nothing short of heartwarming, he remarked.
When he joined Celtic on loan from Norwich this past January, the initial reaction to his signing was lukewarm. Nonetheless, he swiftly demonstrated his worth to the followers of the Parkhead club, becoming the first player to score the winning goal against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final since Joe Miller’s successful attempt 35 years prior.
The Republic of Ireland striker has now managed to make nine successful strikes in his 19 Celtic matches. These goals have contributed to his total count of 18 this season, both domestically and internationally.
He expressed confidence in his skills, stating: “My intent was to contribute to games and score as many goals as I could. I’m glad to say that I’ve been successful in doing that. I’ve always believed in my abilities, even when others doubted me.”
For me, maintaining concentration was key and the manager recognised my potential, instilling in me the faith to play freely and enjoy football. I am certain I have vindicated his faith. I am self-assured. I’ve explained earlier how joining this club marked a major turning point in my career. I’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible support I’ve received from everyone. Now, I find pleasure in playing football again.
Celtic’s head coach, Brendan Rodgers, is keen to secure me permanently. However, given that my current agreement with Carrow Road runs until 2028, the circumstances reside beyond my control.
“At present, I remain under contract with Norwich and look forward to my upcoming downtime,” I added. “I need to unwind, celebrate and savour the moment. It’s been an arduous season. If ever the situation arises, I am positive there would be discussions. But for the present, I simply need to enjoy my break.”