Mabil reveals goal signal motivation
AWER Mabil knows it can be easy to feel alone, and he’s witnessed the mental health battles of others.
So when the Socceroos forward was hanging out at home in Denmark with close friend and former FC Midtjylland teammate Pione Sisto – a fellow South Sudanese player – he decided he wanted to create something meaningful to raise awareness.
“I just came up with that,” Mabil said, referring to his goal celebration. “From then on, ever since I scored I just did it.”
But the 23-year-old had not spoken publicly about its meaning until now, preferring to wait until the right moment to reveal the mystery behind the unique gesture.
He picked that moment after scoring a peach in Tuesday night’s 3-2 Asian Cup win over Syria, a result that sends Australia to the tournament’s knockout stages. The hand covering his mouth, he said, highlights that people suffering should talk about it.
The other hand, a peace sign between his eyes, signifies bringing peace to the mind.
“It’s basically representing standing up for the people who are suffering from mental illness or depression,” Mabil said.
“I want them to know that people do care for them and it’s all in the mind. They need to find someone to talk to.
“It’s to basically show awareness for those people who are suffering from it. We are so lucky as football players to play football, but at the same time there’s a lot of people also suffering from that.”
Mental health is a cause close to his heart.
The former Adelaide United player has already spoken of football’s power to “get rid of my traumas” as he spent his formative childhood years in difficult conditions at Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp.
Part of a tight-knit family, he alluded to struggling when he moved away from his mum and siblings to Denmark at 19 and spent the next three years on loan at another club in the country and then Portugal before finally cracking the Midtjylland first team.
“It’s easy to be alone, especially when you are in football, let’s say you move from Australia to Europe or away from your family,” Mabil said.
Mabil’s goal was a stunner, an arcing left-footer from the top of the penalty area that sailed straight over the head of Syrian goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma and into the top corner. “It was really nice,” he said. “But like I said last time, it’s easy to score goals when the team is behind you.
“Chris (Ikonomidis) done well tonight, Tommy (Rogic) also on the scoresheet and making assists. It’s really clicking for our team.”
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost