Awer Mabil is in Australia for the Socceroos’ ‘Welcome Home’ series against Ecuador. The A-League graduate blazed a trail for the likes of Nestory Irankunda to follow, and he is continuing to lead the way in the national team, he tells KEEPUP.
Awer Mabil has been there before. He lit up Coopers Stadium as one of the most promising talents in the A-Leagues back in 2013.
Born in a refugee camp in Kenya to South Sudanese parents – one he described as a “hut”, he found a new home in Adelaide with Craig Goodwin in his corner. The 27-year-old has gone on to score a sudden-death penalty in a dramatic FIFA Men’s World Cup play-off against Peru and represent the Socceroos on the biggest stage.
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Now, teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda is following a similar path in Adelaide.
The 17-year-old drawcard has taken the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm with his selection of showreel goals for the high-flying Reds this season. He has also had iconic captain and Socceroos star Goodwin by his side.
And it is that form that has seen the Tanzania-born winger drafted into the Australia squad as a train-on player for this the pair of international friendlies against Ecuador, starting in Sydney on Friday night.
Funnily enough, Mabil – the 2023 Young Australian of the Year – and Irankunda are rooming together during this international camp.
“I think there was a purpose in us sharing the room so I’ll take that as a big brother sign,” Mabil told KEEPUP.
“I just want the kid to enjoy himself and feel at ease, and do what he does best.”
Irankunda has scored four goals in 2022-23, all four coming off the bench for Carl Veart’s Adelaide.
Labelled a “rare talent” by his Reds boss, he has also scored seven ALM goals in his career, tying the league record for most goals scored before 18 (level with former Adelaide sensation Mohamed Toure).
There is a 10-year gap between the pair, so Mabil is leaning on that experience to lead from the front.
He is not alone with another A-Leagues product – Albirex Niigata defender Thomas Deng – mentoring Irankunda and Newcastle United’s Garang Kuol, who is on loan at Hearts.
“He is a nice kid. A big talent but at the same time we have to let a kid enjoy his football because I think football is best played when you’re free-minded instead of putting pressure,” Mabil, who is playing for Czech giants Sparta Prague on loan from LaLiga’s Cadiz, insisted.
“My job is to be a good example for him, Garang (Kuol). And also me and Thommy (Thomas Deng). We’re trying to kind them and trying to not let them make the same mistakes we went through.
“It’s about not being too hard that they feel tense. It’s about being loose and also just being a good example. Not just the way I talk to him, but how I carry myself on and off the field.
“He needs to see that example because he is one of those that if he works hard and sees a good example, he will be amazing in the future and I’m sure he is going to be amazing. He just needs the right people around him.”
Mabil’s former club, with Goodwin leading the way and Irankunda showing glimpses of his immense talent, are threatening to dethrone reigning Isuzu UTE A-League premiers Melbourne City.
Adelaide are unbeaten in 10 matches following their 5-1 rout of Wellington Phoenix in Round 21, a result that left them second and just four points adrift of City.
The Reds have now scored 13 goals in their past three matches, having beaten City and Newcastle Jets 4-2 in successive weeks.
It means Adelaide have joined an exclusive club as just the third team in Isuzu UTE A-League history to score at least four goals in three consecutive games after Sydney FC (April 10, 2016 to October 15, 2016) and Melbourne City (November 27, 2015 to December 13, December 2015).
“For me, they are the best team to watch at the moment,” said Mabil, who won the 2014 Australia Cup during his two seasons at the club.”
Aside from Irankunda, scholarship player Luka Jovanovic has also burst onto the scene following back-to-back goals for the 17-year-old.
“They have amazing talent coming up. I don’t know what’s going on at Adelaide but we’re producing a lot of amazing players and that will continue to happen and it’s been happening for a while,” he added.
“It’s a credit to Adelaide and the people down there for believing in young players and giving them a chance.”
Australia’s squad for the ‘Welcome Home’ series is made up of past and present Isuzu UTE A-League stars.
While Irankunda is a train-on player, Goodwin is joined by Adelaide teammate and goalkeeper Joe Gauci, who could make his international debut.
Then there is fellow debutants Jordy Bos and Aiden O’Neill of Melbourne City, plus teammate Marco Tilio, Western Sydney Wanderers’ Brandon Borrello, Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne and Central Coast Mariners favourite Jason Cummings.
The squad also includes captain Mathew Ryan, Aziz Behich, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson, Deng, Ryan Strain, Riley McGree, Keanu Baccus, Connor Metcalfe, Cam Devlin, Mabil, Mitch Duke and Kuol, who have also played in the A-Leagues.
“It speaks about how highly our league is rated and developing,” Mabil said of the A-Leagues’ Socceroos contingent.
“For me and the rest of the team, we know we have quality back here. It’s not just to be in Europe, it’s not the only place to play football.
“It’s good to see the development of the league and it shows on the players we have. Alot of the players developed here in the A-Leagues before the journey to Europe, and a lot are still here like Craig Goodwin. An amazing player and has done amazing things for the league. He’s doing amazing things for the national team.
“The A-Leagues is growing a lot, which just need to keep pushing it to ensure it grows and keeps producing players.”
Mabil was part of Australia’s memorable World Cup campaign in Qatar last year.
The Socceroos defied the odds to emerge from a group including reigning champions France, Denmark and Tunisia to reach the last 16.
And they almost toppled eventual champions Argentina and Lionel Messi in a tense knockout fixture.
It is a tournament that put Australian footballers, and the A-Leagues on the map.
“Especially after the World Cup, the view of Australian players is changing a lot,” said Mabil.
“I remember when I went to Spain, a lot of players didn’t know about Australian players and Australia in general in terms of football. But that image is changing because before other players were put ahead of us even though we were better.
“We still had that title of being from Australia. They say Australia isn’t a football country but we’re proving that wrong.
“After the World Cup, I can tell you a lot of people have been talking and how well we did. That shut their mouths. That was pretty cool.”
