Socceroo Awer Mabil goes back to school at St Columba at Andrew’s farm

Socceroo Awer Mabil, whose vital penalty helped Australia qualify for this year’s World Cup, returned to St Columba school at Andrews Farm where he developed his football skills

Six-year-old Ajak Atem was overcome meeting his hero. But he wasn’t alone. When Socceroo World Cup star Awer Mabil visited his old school St Columba College at Andrews Farm, in Adelaide’ northern suburbs, there was shouting, screaming and even the odd tear.

When Ajak approached Mabil, the footballer picked up the little kid who grabbed him around the neck and buried his face in his shoulder.

“I have never seen him and I think he’s my cousin,’’ Ajak said later. “I wish I could play like him.’’

Awer Mabil, Socceroos player who scored the final goal to get Australia into the world cup, is visiting his former school, with student Ajak Atem. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mabil was king of the kids at St Columba on Wednesday. Kids were pouring out of classrooms to catch a glimpse of the player. A three-deep line up ran for 60m outside primary school classrooms with Mabil taking the time to high-five each student. A chant went up: “Sock-er-roos”. You didn’t envy the teachers putting that genie back in the bottle.

For the 26-year-old Mabil, it was a trip home after scoring a decisive penalty for Australia in its playoff last week against Peru that ensured the Socceroos will be at this year’s World Cup in Qatar. These were the ovals and playgrounds where he had developed his talent for the world game after arriving as a refugee from Kenya in Australia in 2006.

What he wanted to show the kids at St Columba yesterday was that, no matter, where you start from, you can make it to the top.

“I want to be an example to the next generation because, you know, the former generation of the Socceroos was a big impact on my life growing up so I hope I can do the same for these kids,’’ Mabil said. “They can get that belief that they can do anything they want to do just by seeing an example.’’

Awer Mabil of Australia reacts after scoring a penalty shootout against Peru. Picture. Joe Allison/Getty Images

‘That’s my message for them. Hopefully that I can encourage somebody to follow their dreams. That’s enough for me.’’

St Columba deputy principal Darren Pitt said Mabil’s achievements gave proof to the message the school preached to its students that there is a “pathway to success’’.

“We say that if they work hard and understand their own talent, they can achieve anything,’’ Mr Pitt said.

“Awer is a real-life example of what we tell them every week.’’

Mabil stayed silent on speculation his next club move would take him to Cadiz, a team in Spain’s La Liga, one of the world’s most prestigious leagues, but said it had always been “one of his dreams’’ to play in the World Cup.

Australia is in a tough group against world champions France, Denmark and Tunisia.

“When you are Australia, sometimes some people write you off, but you know, we’ve shown now we beat Peru. So why can we do the same against anybody at the World Cup?’’