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Awer Mabil

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Awer Mabil
Mabil playing for Australia at 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Personal information
Full name Awer Denis Bul Mabil[1]
Date of birth (1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth Kakuma, Kenya
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Sparta Prague
(on loan from Cádiz)
Number 45
Youth career
St Augustines
Playford City
Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club
2010–2011 SA NTC
2012–2015 Adelaide United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012 Campbelltown City 14 (1)
2013–2015[3][4] Adelaide United 47 (8)
2015–2022 Midtjylland 108 (16)
2016–2017Esbjerg fB (loan) 25 (4)
2017–2018Paços de Ferreira (loan) 26 (2)
2022Kasımpaşa (loan) 11 (2)
2022– Cádiz 5 (0)
2023–Sparta Prague (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2014–2015 Australia U20 9 (4)
2015 Australia U23 6 (0)
2018– Australia 31 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 September 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:58, 26 November 2022 (UTC)

Awer Bul Mabil (born 15 September 1995) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Sparta Prague on loan from La Liga club Cádiz. Born in Kenya, he represents the Australia national team at international level.

Born a South Sudanese refugee in Kenya, Mabil played youth soccer at the South Australian National Training Centre and with Adelaide United. He made his senior debut for Campbelltown City, before making his debut in the A-League for Adelaide United in 2013.

Early life and education

Mabil was born on 15 September 1995[3] to South Sudanese parents in Kakuma, located in northwestern Kenya. He lived with his family in the Kakuma Refugee Camp until the age of 10[5] when they moved to Australia and settled in Adelaide.[6] He first began playing soccer at the Kenyan refugee camp at around the age of five, stating: "We would just go outside and start kicking around. It was not structured and there was little else to do".[7] They played with bare feet and used a rolled-up sock as a football.[8] During a 2022 World Cup qualifier, Mabil said "I was born in a hut, a little hut. My hotel room here is definitely bigger than the hut, the room we had as a family in that refugee camp".[9]

Mabil attended St Columba College throughout his teenage years in Adelaide,[10] graduating in 2013.[11]

Club career

Youth

Mabil played in youth teams at St Augustines;[12] Playford City;[4] SA NTC (2010–2011);[3] and Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club.[4][13]

Adelaide United

Mabil made his senior debut at Campbelltown City (in the FFSA National Premier League) in 2012.[3][14] Later that year he was signed by Adelaide United in the A-League, after he had displayed a number of performances showing his pace and dribbling skills to outwit many defenders in the FFSA National Premier League.[15]

He made his Adelaide United senior debut on 11 January 2013 in a 2012–13 A-League match against Perth Glory. He scored his first goal in a 2–1 away loss to Wellington Phoenix in Round 17 of the 2013–14 A-League season, after coming on as a substitute in the second half.

FC Midtjylland

In July 2015, Mabil secured a move to Danish Superliga club, FC Midtjylland for a reported transfer fee in excess of AU$1,300,000[16][17] Awer Mabil made his Danish Superliga debut for FC Midtjylland on 16 October 2015 against Randers FC at the MCH Arena in Herning as an 83rd-minute substitute for Daniel Royer. On 22 October 2015, Mabil made his UEFA Europa League debut at home to Napoli FC, coming on for Mikkel Duelund in the 73rd minute.[citation needed]

He has said that when he went to FC Midtjylland he began to appreciate the seriousness of the game, and to develop a winning mentality. Initially he was not getting much game time, and the club sent him to two clubs on loan to help develop his skills and a winning mindset.[18]

Loan to Esbjerg fB

In August 2016, Mabil was loaned to Esbjerg fB to allow him to get more game time and develop.[19][20] Mabil made his debut on 8 August 2016, starting the match against AGF but was sent off in the 44th minute.[21] Esbjerg was relegated to the Danish 1st Division, and Esbjerg announced that Mabil was one of nine players who would be leaving the club.[22]

Loan to Paços de Ferreira

In July 2017, Mabil was loaned to Paços de Ferreira to allow him further first-team opportunities.[23] Paços de Ferreira were relegated at the end of the 2017–18 Primeira Liga season; however, Mabil impressed while on loan, scoring twice and providing a further three assists in 26 league appearances.[24] He still follows the club.[18]

Return to Midtjylland

Mabil returned to Denmark in 2018 a more mature player,[18] and had a strong start, scoring a goal and registering two assists in his first six appearances of the season.[25] On 11 November 2018, Mabil scored two and set a further two up in Midtjyllands 5–0 win over Vejle, taking his season tally to four goals and eight assists.[26] He worked his way into the first team squad.[18]

On 30 September 2020, he assisted Sory Kaba's headed goal with a cross in a 4–1 home win over Slavia Prague in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League play-off round that qualified Midtjylland for their first UEFA Champions League.[27] He scored his first Champions League goal on 25 November that year against Ajax from the penalty spot in a 3–1 defeat.[28]

Loan to Kasımpaşa

In February 2022, after being sidelined at Midtjylland owing to his unwillingness to sign a further contract after seven years in Denmark, Mabil was loaned to Kasımpaşa in Turkey until the end of the season.[29]

Cádiz

In May 2022, it was confirmed that Mabil had signed to Spanish La Liga club Cádiz for four seasons.[30][31]

Loan to Sparta Prague

In January 2023, Mabil was loaned to Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic.[32]

International career

In August 2013, Mabil was called up by Australia for COTIF Tournament in L'Alcúdia, Spain.[33] The tournament was used by the FFA to prepare players for their successful 2014 AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign.[citation needed]

A citizen of South Sudan by birth, he was cleared by FIFA to play for Australia in March 2014 after a year-long process to obtain a birth certificate and gain exemption from FIFA eligibility rules due to his refugee status.[34][35]

He featured for Australia in the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship, playing in all three of their games, the opponents were Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.[36][37][38]

After showing impressive form with FC Midtjylland, Mabil was called up to the senior team for the first time. Participating in the Socceroos first training camp under new coach Graham Arnold.[39]

On 16 October 2018, Mabil made his debut for the Australia senior national team against Kuwait in an international friendly match at the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium. He came on as a second-half substitution for Mathew Leckie and scored his maiden goal for the senior national team in the 88th minute to give Australia their fourth and final goal in a 4–0 win over Kuwait in Graham Arnold's first match of his second stint with the Australian national team.[40][41] Mabil's goal was assisted by Tomi Juric and Thomas Deng.[42] Mabil celebrated the goal with childhood friend and fellow South Sudanese refugee Deng, who was also making his international debut for Australia.[43] Awer dedicated the goal, post-match, to his mother.[44]

Mabil played in qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup. In the final "must-win" game against Peru, he scored one of the penalties that secured a place in the competition for the Socceroos. He said that scoring the crucial goal was "the only way to say thank you to Australia on behalf of my family".[9][45]

On 22 September 2022, Mabil scored his first home international goal against New Zealand in a 1–0 win in a friendly at Lang Park.[citation needed]

Other activities

Barefoot to Boots

Mabil helped to establish the humanitarian charity Barefoot to Boots with his elder brother[8] Awer G. Bul, and Ian Smith[46] to ensure better "health, education, and gender equality" outcomes for refugees. Mabil returned to Kakuma with the organisation, with the aim of promoting football as well as helping refugees in other ways.[8]

Recognition and honours

In 2018, Mabil was awarded the FIFPRO Merit Award, presented by the International Federation of Professional Footballers at a ceremony in Rome. The award is worth worth US$25,000, to be donated to his charity to continue his work.[47]

In June 2022, on a visit to his old school, St Columba College, Mabil was presented with the 2022 Alumni of the Year Award, in recognition of his high level of achievement in football as well as his service to the community with his Barefoot to Boots charity.[11]

In November 2022, Mabil was announced as recipient of the 2023 Young Australian of the Year award for his home state of South Australia.[48][49]

Personal life

His elder brother is Awer G. Bul, who is director of Barefoot to Boots, which he co-founded.[8]

Mabil's 19-year-old sister Bor was killed in a car crash in Adelaide in 2018.[8]

He went to school with good friend, fellow-refugee and Socceroo Thomas Deng.[50]

Career statistics

Club

As of 24 June 2022[51][52]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Adelaide United 2012–13 A-League 5 0 5 0
2013–14 20 2 1[b] 0 21 2
2014–15 19 5 3 1 2[b] 1 24 7
Total 44 7 3 1 3 1 50 9
FC Midtjylland 2015–16 Superliga 6 0 1 0 2 0 9 0
2018–19 30 6 1 0 5[c] 0 36 6
2019–20 34 8 0 0 2[d] 0 36 8
2020–21 21 1 3 0 10[e] 2 34 3
2021–22 3 1 0 0 3[e] 1 6 2
Total 94 16 5 0 22 3 121 19
Esbjerg fB (loan) 2016–17 Superliga 25 4 0 0 4[f] 0 29 4
Paços de Ferreira (loan) 2017–18 Primeira Liga 26 2 3[g] 1 29 3
Kasımpaşa (loan) 2021–22 Süper Lig 11 2 0 0 11 2
Career total 200 31 8 1 22 3 10 2 240 37
  1. ^ Includes Australian FFA Cup, Danish Sydbank Pokalen, Portuguese Taça de Portugal and Turkish Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearances in finals series
  3. ^ Includes four appearances in the Europa League third qualification and play-off rounds and one appearance in the Champions League second qualification round
  4. ^ Appearances in the Europa League
  5. ^ a b Appearances in the Champions League
  6. ^ Appearances in Superliga relegation play-offs
  7. ^ Appearances in the Portuguese Taça da Liga

International

As of 2 December 2022
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Australia 2018 4 2
2019 10 2
2021 9 2
2022 8 2
Total 31 8
As of match played 22 September 2022
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mabil goal.
List of international goals scored by Awer Mabil
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 October 2018 Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait 1  Kuwait 4–0 4–0 Friendly
2 30 December 2018 Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 4  Oman 3–0 5–0 Friendly
3 11 January 2019 Rashid Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 6  Palestine 2–0 3–0 2019 AFC Asian Cup
4 15 January 2019 Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates 7  Syria 1–0 3–2 2019 AFC Asian Cup
5 2 September 2021 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar 17  China 1–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 7 October 2021 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar 19  Oman 1–0 3–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 1 June 2022 Al Janoub Stadium, Al-Wakrah, Qatar 26  Jordan 2–1 2–1 Friendly
8 22 September 2022 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 29  New Zealand 1–0 1–0 Friendly

Honours

Adelaide United

Midtjylland

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Australia (AUS)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 2. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Awer Mabil - Player Profile - Football". Eurosport. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Awer Mabil". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "News - Reds provide opportunity exciting young duo". Adelaide United. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Awer Mabil used to make footballs from plastic bags. Now he's an Australian hero". SBS News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Awer Mabil's journey from refugee camp to the World Cup is the stuff that dreams are made of". ABC News. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Returning to the refugee camp". FIFA. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e Keane, Daniel (15 June 2022). "Awer Mabil's journey from refugee camp to the World Cup is the stuff that dreams are made of". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ^ a b "From a Kenyan refugee camp to the World Cup". BBC Sport. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Socceroo Awer Mabil goes back to school at St Columba at Andrews Farm". Adelaide Now. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b McNamara, Lindy (23 June 2022). "School honour for Socceroo". The Southern Cross. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  12. ^ "About us". Saint Augustines Soccer Club. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club". SAcommunity. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Awer Mabil - Player Statistics". GameDay. Campbelltown City, Seniors. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Young Adelaide United gun Awer Mabil up for attack". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Awer Mabil to join Danish champion side FC Midtjylland after United deal all but done". The Advertiser. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Mabil signs with Danish Club". Adelaide United FC. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  18. ^ a b c d "How back-to-back relegations made Awer Mabil the player he is today". Socceroos. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Esbjerg lejer kantspiller i FCM" (in Danish). bold.dk. 3 August 2016.
  20. ^ Somerford, Ben (5 August 2016). "Mabil seals Esbjerg move". Inside Sport.
  21. ^ Stoll, Nick (9 August 2016). "Amini scores while Mabil is sent-off as Aussies clash in Denmark". The World Game. SBS.
  22. ^ Ni spillere på vej ud i Esbjerg, bold.dk, 30 May 2017
  23. ^ Somerford, Ben (6 July 2017). "Mabil joins Portuguese club". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017.
  24. ^ "2017–2018 Paços de Ferreira Stats". 13 June 2018.
  25. ^ Windon, Jacob (20 September 2018). "Progress Report: Awer Mabil". Socceroos.
  26. ^ "Aussies Abroad: Mabil masterclass leads five-star Midtjylland to victory". Socceroos. 12 November 2018.
  27. ^ Rosengarten, Jake (1 October 2020). "Awer Mabil's beautiful reaction to qualifying for Champions League". sport.optus.com.au.
  28. ^ "Mabil scores maiden Champions League goal, Liverpool lose, City advance". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 2020.
  29. ^ Lewis, Dave (20 February 2022). "Exclusive: Socceroos star seals top-flight Spanish deal". FTBL. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Cádiz has closed its first signing: Awer Mabil". Sportz. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Cádiz confirms Awer Mabil as its first signing". Spain La Liga News. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  32. ^ Blejštil, Petr (4 January 2023). "Sparta hlásí čtvrtou posilu. Přivedla účastníka MS v Kataru". sport.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  33. ^ "Young Socceroos announced for COTIF tournament". footballaustralia.com.au. 5 August 2013.
  34. ^ Migliaccio, Val (13 March 2014). "FIFA gives Mabil the green light". The Australian. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  35. ^ Burgess, Michael (22 August 2015). "Football: Oz up with eligibility play". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  36. ^ "Australia vs. United Arab Emirates". the-afc.com. 10 October 2014.
  37. ^ "Indonesia vs. Australia". the-afc.com. 12 October 2014.
  38. ^ "Uzbekistan vs. Australia". the-afc.com. 14 October 2014.
  39. ^ "Graham Arnold has named his first Socceroos squad since taking over as head coach". foxsports.com.au. 30 August 2018.
  40. ^ "Kuwait vs Australia". The World Game. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Socceroos comfortably defeat Kuwait in Graham Arnold's first game in charge". ABC News. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  42. ^ Davidson, John (16 October 2018). "Graham Arnold off to a flyer as Socceroos thrash Kuwait in friendly". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  43. ^ Bossi, Dominic (16 October 2018). "Sudanese refugees share special Socceroo debuts". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  44. ^ "Mabil's moment nine years in the making". www.ftbl.com.au. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  45. ^ "'Thank you Australia': Socceroo Awer Mabil dedicates sudden-death goal to the nation". SBS News. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  46. ^ "Board". Barefoot to Boots. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  47. ^ Hytner, Mike (30 November 2018). "Barefoot to Boots: Socceroo Awer Mabil recognised for refugee work". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  48. ^ "Awer Mabil". Australian of the Year. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  49. ^ Wilson, Rebecca (11 November 2022). "Winners of 2023 SA Australian of the Year Awards announced". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  50. ^ "Thomas Deng". Perth African Nations Sports Association. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  51. ^ Awer Mabil at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 January 2019. Edit this at Wikidata
  52. ^ "Awer Mabil » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  53. ^ Rojas makes FFA awards history WAToday.com.au