For 12 years, Socceroos attacker Awer Mabil made his dreams come true in Europe but paid a price with his beloved family back home.
Mabil has gone to two World Cups, played in the UEFA Champions League and taken the pitch for clubs in Spain, Denmark, Turkey, Portugal, Switzerland and Czech Republic.
The 30-year-old South Australian is at “the peak of his powers” and has chosen to come home to the A-Leagues and sign a three-year deal with Melbourne City, in part to make up for lost time with those he loves.
“I’ve done 12 years, I reckon that might be enough,” Mabil said.
“I want to be close to family, close to my friends. It’s very important now because I’ve sacrificed 12 years and I’ve seen my little brothers grow.
“When I left one was three, one was five and now one is 16 and other is 13 – so there are certain things that are bigger than just football.
“I’ve come to the point of my life where I know my friends and family have sacrificed a lot, so it is only right to give back.”
Legacy is a word Mabil used multiple times on Wednesday, as one of Australia’s first South Sudanese players to star in the A-Leagues and move onto the Socceroos and Europe, he laid a path that others of African descent have followed led by Socceroos teammates Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Tete Yengi.
By returning now, he can cement a legacy with achievements in the A-Leagues and the Socceroos who he still plans to play a big role for starting at the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January.
“I’m 30, I’m the perfect age,” Mabil said.
“You can see now, people are playing until 40 and I’m mentally, physically, at the peak.
“I want to pass on my experience to the younger players and for my [South Sudanese] community, right now, it could have been easy to go [elsewhere] for money, but, for me, the most important thing is leaving a legacy, a blueprint for the young ones to follow.
“Now I’m playing in Australia. For sure, there will be a lot of South Sudanese at every stadium. I want to inspire the next generation.”
Mabil sidestepped questions about whether his home club, Adelaide United, were in the running for his services.
The Reds currently field a young side, led by another Socceroos attacker in Craig Goodwin, and they aren’t believed to have had the buying power to compete with City.
But by coming home, his loved ones can still watch him play on TV during waking hours.
“Adelaide is my home, my family is there,” Mabil said.
“But I also have to look for what gives the best possibility to also win stuff. I think I’ve made the right choice for this moment in my career.”
He joins fellow Socceroos Aziz Behich and Mathew Leckie at City although starting goalkeeper Patrick Beach has left the club to join Ligue 1 club Troyes.
The A-League has become a young man’s competition recently and many of those players have looked up to Mabil, but will be out to beat him once play starts in October.
“If you have beaten me, then I’ve done my job,” Mabil beamed.
“For me, the most important thing is showing an example and I’ve worked hard to try and do that. I’m happy when I see everybody, not just young African players but young Australian players, making that next step.
“That’s what I’m here for.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
