Awer Mabil will never forget his first football, because he made it himself.
“We used to collect plastic bags and then tie them up into a ball shape,” he tells triple j hack.
“It was pretty cool.”
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Mabil is remembering his childhood in the Kakuma Refugee Camp where he was born in north-western Kenya.
“Football was 100 per cent an escape for us,” he says.
“If you’re hungry, you don’t feel hungry because you’re just playing for the moment with your friends.
“Then when I came to Australia, I was like, ‘oh … I don’t have to make the balls from the scratch.'”
Mabil and his family arrived in Australia as refugees when he was 10-years-old.
Since then he’s established himself as one of Australia’s most well-known football players, representing the nation at two World Cups, and being recognised as the Young Australian of the Year in 2023.
Awer Mabil has become one of Australia’s most recognisable footballers and was named Young Australian of the Year in 2023. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)Â (AAP: Dave Hunt)
Now 30, Mabil is back in Australia after a decade playing in Europe, achieving his dreams.
Earlier this year, the Socceroos star signed a three-year deal with Melbourne City and says he’s looking forward to putting some roots down here.
“I can finally buy furniture that I can keep,” he laughs.
“I also want to play in front of my family and friends … I didn’t take advantage of it when I was here before and now I get that chance again.“
‘We’re all proud’
Returning to Adelaide from the Socceroos World Cup campaign in July, Mabil made headlines when he was asked about One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s calls for a “monoculture” in Australia.
“It’s just all bulls***,” Mabil told waiting reporters.
Now with a few months distance, the football player says he’s still surprised by how much traction his response got.
“To be honest, it just came to my head,” he tells hack.
“I was just being myself.
“I feel passionate about including everybody because that’s what makes Australia great.
“So if there are people that try to divide what Australia is then that’s not good.”
Mabil says it’s important to not only tolerate other cultures in Australia, but celebrate them.
“My little brothers were born here and they’re more Aussie than anybody else.
“But everybody’s got different flavours.”
Mabil says many have thrown their support behind his defence of multiculturalism in recent months, but concedes there has been hate as well.
“I don’t let that energy get to me.”
“I’ve learned that being genuine, being pure to yourself and honest is best.
“Don’t take in negativity.”
Returning to Kakuma
One of Awer Mabil’s biggest focuses in life, away from sport, is charity.
After a trip back to the camp where he was born, he and his brother started the charity Barefoot to Boots which supports refugees living in camps around the world by supplying them with football boots and equipment.
“It’s very humbling,” he says.
“Every time I go back it brings me back to appreciating the life that I have, that we have here in Australia, because people are struggling with the basic stuff there.”
Non-government organisation Barefoot to Boots uses soccer to tackle global inequality and promote “health, education and gender equality initiatives” in refugee camps, especially at Kakuma in Kenya. Photo taken in 2018. (Facebook: Barefoot to Boots)
Barefoot to Boots has expanded its scope in recent years, funding sanitary products for girls, hospital equipment, teaching supplies and building public bathrooms.
“We went into the hospitals and realised the premature born kids didn’t have a chance.
“So we donated three incubators and to be honest that’s the best thing we’ve ever done because that’s saving lives.”
‘Learn to love yourself’
Mabil says a bit of time has helped him better appreciate the Socceroos’ effort at this year’s World Cup, after the Australian team was beaten in a Round of 32 clash against Egypt.
It was just the third time the Socceroos had reached the knockout stage of the tournament.
“We were so close to making history,” he says.
“We should be proud as a team.
“The future is looking great and I’m very optimistic about Australian football.”
Socceroos star Awer Mabil isn’t sure what will come after his football but says he will tackle whatever comes next with the same dedication as his playing career. (triple j hack: Arianna Lucente)
Asked what his future holds after football, Mabil smiles.
“It’s an interesting question.
“I enjoy media a lot and could go down that path.
“But whatever I choose next … I’ll put the same discipline into it that I did towards my football career.“
His advice for other young Australians who may be struggling with identity or feeling different is simple.
“Learn to love yourself.
“Remember … I’m created perfectly the way I am.”
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