Awer Mabil Reflects on Refugee Background, Team Diversity Ahead of US Clash

Socceroos forward Awer Mabil offered his trademark focus on Wednesday afternoon in Oakland speaking to the Australian media about this week’s clash against the United States. There was one distraction, however, he could not overcome.

The winger lost his concentration when long-time SBS commentator David Basheer – in the US as part of the network’s coverage – asked a question during the press conference. “Sorry, David from SBS, right?” Mabil interjected. “I grew up watching you.”

Mabil, the 30-year-old who is at his second World Cup, is one of the faces of this group of Socceroos. A refugee born in a Kenyan camp to South Sudanese parents, he told the story of his background as part of a video message about the team’s diversity that was released before the tournament.

Mabil’s experience is similar to many migrant stories in Australia. “I forgot about your question, I just started reflecting,” he continued to Basheer, as the room burst out in laughter.

“I grew up watching SBS as a kid, because it was free TV. So you doing the World Game, that’s where I used to see all of my highlights from all over the world of football,” he said. “So, first, thank you, you gave me good memories as a kid.”

Basheer repeated his question, about the Socceroos’ younger players. Mabil said he has tried to be a “big brother” to the likes of Mo Touré and Nestory Irankunda – fellow refugees from Africa who grew up in Adelaide – as well as the other young players.

“It’s something that’s special for me to see their growth over the last couple of years and their maturity has been amazing,” he said. “I can just only be there, allow them to be themselves, and protect them when they need protection.”

The goal by Irankunda against Turkey became a lightning rod across Australia for positivity towards multiculturalism. It also triggered a new wave of those seeing, and then sharing, the video message released by the players the week before the tournament.

The two-minute video began with the words of Mabil, and has now been shared widely on social media. “It was a moment to describe what Australia is, and Australia is a very multicultural country, and that’s what makes it the best country in the world, in my opinion,” Mabil said. “You have the whole world in one place and the Socceroos now are a representation of that. You have many different backgrounds representing one jersey.”

The video was a simple collation of messages about where the Socceroos grew up and why they have pride in the jersey. “The reason why it went viral is because it was raw. It was not edited. It was just purely what the players wanted to say and all put together,” Mabil said. “It had an effect because individually Australians can feel and relate with it.”

Coincidentally this week is celebrated globally as refugee week. Mabil said he wanted to thank Australia and do his best for a country that has taken in so many refugees over the years.

“It’s a week that I would like to say to anybody that is misplaced all over the world that we are with you,” he said. “And we are on the world stage right now, a big tournament, and just to tell you everything is possible, so keep going.”