Recalled Socceroo Awer Mabil feels he can still play a key role for Australia on the field as well as off it in a mentoring role for fellow Africa-born talent, including former A-League prodigy Nestory Irankunda, now part of the national team set-up.
At 30, Spain-based Mabil was perhaps the biggest surprise in the Socceroos’ 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA Series games against Cameroon and Curacao.
The experienced winger’s most recent Socceroos camp was in September 2024 under Australia’s previous coach, Graham Arnold.
Yet to play under current Socceroos mentor Tony Popovic, Mabil hopes to get the chance to push his claims for selection in Australia’s FIFA World Cup squad in Friday night’s game against Cameroon in Sydney, and next Tuesday’s battle with Curacao in Melbourne.
“I’m better now, 100 per cent, mentally and as a player,” the former Adelaide United star said on Monday.
“I know what I’m capable of, and also what I’ve done in the past, (but) that doesn’t matter. I’m only trying to be as present as I can.
“I feel like I can do something for the country when my chance comes, and I’ll keep doing my best.”
He said he was grateful to be called up again.
“I’ve missed it, so it was nice to be considered again,” he said.
“It’s something that I have to enjoy … and it’s something you realise, when you’re away from it, how special it is to represent your country.”
Mabil, who plays his club football for Spanish second division outfit CD Castellon, was born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents and moved to Australia with his family when he was 10.
He debuted for the Socceroos in 2018, and in 2023 was named Young Australian of the Year after co-founding the not-for-profit organisation Barefoot to Boots, which works to better health, education, policies and gender equality for refugees.
Mabil sees himself as a “brother” to the likes of Tanzania-born Irankunda and Guinea-born striker Mohamed Toure, who both play in the English Championship and are both expected to be in the Socceroos’ squad for the World Cup, which starts in June.
“Coming up as a young African player, there was no real blueprint … for seeing an African play for the Socceroos, maybe playing also a major role in the team. It was not something that was normal,” he said.
“My biggest goal was to push through no matter what, and if there was kind of a blueprint that I laid for Nes and Toure, and I’m sure there are going to be more coming up, then I’ve done my job, and I’ll continue to do my job, because everybody’s on a journey.
“As an older brother, I try to advise them on the foundation of things because we can’t let them lose who they are, but there are certain things that have to be aligned in order to be yourself respectfully for everybody.”
