Socceroos star Awer Mabil named Young Australian of the Year

Socceroos Awer Mabil, who fled civil war in Sudan to become to come to Australia and rise to be one of the country’s top footballers, has been named Young Australian of the Year.

Announced yesterday evening at a ceremony in in Canberra, the award, recognised the work he for the not-for-profit Barefoot to Boots, an organisation he co-founded.

The charity aims to improve health, education and gender equality among refugees, providing sports equipment to refugees around the world.

The scheme has grown, with hospital equipment also donated, plus sanitary products for girls who wouldn't otherwise be able to go to school.

Born in a refugee camp in north western Kenya to parents  South Sudan, as a child, Mabil had been to play football in bare feet with a rolled-up sock as a ball.

Resettling to South Australia at the age of 10, Mabil developed a career in football, playing for Adelaide United in the A-League and representing Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Her now plays for Czech team Sparta Prague.

With Mabil having commitments with his club this week, so his mother and uncle accepted the honour in Canberra on his behalf.

In a pre-recorded message, he said his "most important" goal was helping the next generation, stating "Australia gave me and my family that opportunity to follow our dreams.

"We are on a mission to keep helping the less fortunate, and it fills my heart when we help people."

Mabil singled out young people's mental health, and urged them to talk about their problems when they were struggling.

Chair of the National Australia Day Council, Danielle Roche, stated "Awer fled conflict and went on to represent Australia at the highest level as a Socceroo - an extraordinary achievement.

“He has used his success to co-found Barefoot for Boots, a not-for-profit that supports and advocates for other refugees.”

Image: Awer Mabil. Credit: National Australia Day Council.