Football South Australia is beyond delighted to recognise two South Australians from the football family who received prestigious 2023 Australia Day honours.
On the evening of Wednesday 25th Subway Socceroo, Football Australia Legacy ’23 Ambassador, and 2023 South Australia Young Australian of the Year, Awer Mabil, was awarded the 2023 Young Australian of the Year by Prime Minister, The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP at Parliament House in Canberra.
Mabil has been recognised for his work as co-founder for the not-for-profit organisation, Barefoot to Boots. The charity aims for better health, education, policies, and gender equality for refugees, inspired by Mabil’s childhood growing up in a Kenyan refugee camp after his family fled civil war in Sudan, before coming to Australia aged 10.
Awer started his youth career at St. Augustines Soccer Club in Salisbury Park, Playford City, and Salisbury East Junior Soccer club prior to being picked up under the tutelage of Richie Alagich through Football SA’s National Training Centre program from 2010-2011. Awer then caught the eye of Campbelltown City in 2012 and Adelaide United from the same year until 2015, where he was then scouted by the Danish Superliga.
Mabil spoke of the development of his charity and the immense satisfaction helping others brings him:
“Barefoot to Boots was created back in 2014, I went back [to a Kenyan refugee camp] with my brother and we took a suitcase of clothes and some footballs and I went back there and gave those out. I realised that kids were playing barefoot and I’m lucky enough to be sponsored by Nike, which gives me a lot of football boots each season. And I thought about other players who are getting about 8 pairs also every season, so I went back and asked all my teammates to collect all their boots and I would take them back again.
We did that in 2015 and from there, Barefoot was born. The biggest thing that makes me proud of Barefoot and what we did was take some incubators to the camp. We went to the hospital and realised pretty much all babies were being wrapped in clothes and hoping they would survive. But with these incubators we know for sure these babies will survive, that for me means the world because you’ve given a life just with a simple thing.”
Speaking post-award announcement, Mabil talked of his pride in receiving the honour and was quick to thank those who have supported his journey:
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but honestly for me it was an honour just to be nominated…To be named Young Australian of the Year, gives me power to continue to do what I do. For me, I love to help people, I’m really motivated to continue to build on from this.”
The hugely popular and naturally positive character uses his platform as a member of the Australian men’s national football team, including in the recent 2022 FIFA World Cup, to enrich and better the lives of others through his charity work.
“This is something that means a lot to us as a football family, I’d like to thank my footballing family, not just my own family. Because my footballing family has allowed me to use this platform to also motivate the next generation of Australians and to try and be a good example for them.”
Judge Rauf Soulio AM, former President of Football South Australia (2006-2016), Deputy Chairperson of the Asian Football Confederation’s Entry Control Body (judicial body) and Arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, has also been recognised for his significant service to multicultural affairs, to the judiciary, and to the community, particularly for his contribution in football by receiving the Member of the Order of Australia.
Speaking to Football South Australia, Judge Rauf Soulio mentioned his surprise, honour and privilege to have received this recognition following a lifelong passion for football, arising for his father’s involvement in the game:
“He started one of the earliest football clubs in Whyalla back in the late 50’s…once you’re involved in a family that is interested in football, that becomes part of your conversation and passion.”
Judge Soulio reflected fondly upon his time as President of Football South Australia and the gains the sport was able to make at the time:
“I was very privileged to work with other very dedicated and passionate board members and we had the good fortune of having a very innovative and effective CEO in Michael Carter in almost all of my time on the board. We were able to work very closely with Michael over the years to bring the members of the football family together, to enhance the profile of community football in South Australia, and to develop the infrastructure program, I think to the point where we were regarded as a very reliable and effective peak sporting body that had the trust of government at all levels.”
Judge Soulio intends to continue to use his platform within football and use the momentum of being awarded the Member of the Order of Australia to promote the importance of sport and community cohesion:
“I regard football and sport generally as very important. Pivotal to social cohesion, football is a sport that is capable of drawing people together. I know from my experience that those involved in structured and organised sport tend to learn life skills including cooperating with others, discipline with training, and the benefits of working hard. In that way football I think contributes greatly to the community in terms of physical health, in terms of mental well-being, and ultimately in terms of producing young men and women more inclined to contribute positively to society.”
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, has thanked and recognised both Rauf and Awer for their contributions to the game following the awards announcement and was particularly complimentary of their personal character as role models and leaders to drive positive change in our sport.