Subway Socceroo and Football Australia Legacy ’23 Ambassador, Awer Mabil, has capped off a memorable 12-months by being named the 2023 Young Australian of the Year during the Australian of the Year Awards presented by Prime Minister The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP this evening at Parliament House in Canberra.
Mabil, also the recipient of the 2023 South Australia Young Australian of the Year award, has been recognised for his work as co-founder of the not-for-profit organisation, Barefoot to Boots, which aims for better health, education, policies, and gender equality for refugees.
The 27-year old’s story is one of courage and inspiration. Mabil grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp after his family fled civil war in Sudan, before coming to Australia aged 10. Upon reaching his dream of playing for the Australian men’s national football team, his sister tragically died in a car accident in 2019.
The hugely popular and naturally positive character uses his platform as a member of the Australian men’s national football team to enrich and better the lives of others through his charity work.
Mabil follows in the footsteps of CommBank Matildas’ captain, Sam Kerr, who was the recipient of the same Award in 2018, for services to sport and her work advocating for women’s sports.
The recognition of both Mabil and Kerr – along with former Socceroo captain Craig Foster who was nominated for 2023 Australian of the Year – reflects the influential role that football, and footballers play in Australian society.
Speaking from the Awards Ceremony in Canberra, Football Australia CEO James Johnson congratulated Mabil on his richly deserved accolade.
“On behalf of Football Australia and the Australian football family, I want to congratulate Awer on being named the 2023 Young Australian of the Year,” said Johnson.
“Awer’s contribution to Australian football as an immensely talented and popular member of the Subway Socceroos, and to society at large through his charity work, is a testament to the person and role model that he is.
“To have two members of our current senior national football teams in Awer and previously Sam, with their proud diverse backgrounds, being bestowed with such honours, is a reflection of the sport’s impact on Australian society today.
“Football is played by almost two million people across Australia and is more multicultural than any other sport. Awer’s story is a demonstration of how football represents modern day Australia like no other sport and its inherent power to enrich lives and drive positive change within communities,” concluded Johnson.
Mabil is currently in Czechia, playing for Sparta Prague and was unable to attend tonight’s Ceremony, where his Award was accepted by his mother and uncle.
On the pitch was a memorable 2022 for Mabil, who was an integral member of the Subway Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ squad, not only qualifying for the tournament under the most challenging of circumstances due to the pandemic but went onto create history in Doha by becoming the most successful Australian men’s national team ever at a FIFA World Cup™ by winning two group stage matches and qualifying for the Round of 16.
2023 promises to be another exciting year for the Subway Socceroos with a series of high-profile Internationals to be announced, as the squad prepares for the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ to be played in Qatar during early 2024.
