Awer Mabil is proud to represent Australia as one of team’s refugees playing in the World Cup
CALIFORNIA, USA: Awer Mabil’s face quickly turned to pure joy. He beamed and fought his emotions, a reaction Australia’s veteran forward hardly could have seen coming.
It had nothing to do with a soccer result, either. But rather a reflection that took him back to his tumultuous youth as a refugee and how some good fortune landed him in Australia for a new start in life.
Mabil looked into the audience during his media conference after training Tuesday and discovered a familiar face in David Basheer, the longtime commentator on Australia’s SBS network who had just offered a question days ahead of the Socceroos’ World Cup matchup against the United States on Friday in Seattle. Australia went on to lose 2-0.
“I grew up watching you,” Mabil said, so taken aback that he asked Basheer to repeat himself.
