AFL Draft 2015: Patrick Taban aiming at AFL after being born in a refugee camp in Uganda
PATRICK Taban was born in a refugee camp in Uganda. Now the rebounding defender wants to play in the AFL, writes Sam Landsberger.
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“THIS is your chance,” Rose Taban told son Patrick and her six other children when they arrived in Australia.
“Now you are in the white world. Now you are free.”
Rose’s father was killed when she was 11 and Patrick was born in a refugee camp in Uganda, where he lived for about eight years.
Rose had two children in Sudan, fled during the civil war and had five more in Uganda.
“Safer environment, better education and a better future,” is Patrick’s answer to why they moved.
“Africa is free, but Australia is a good place to live and I’m just lucky to be here.”
Living in Darwin, Patrick, 17, says the heat is just like Africa but there are no Sherrins back home.
It is partly why when he has returned he prefers to stay in the village rather than the city, so he can share his stories with his family.
“We didn’t have much, but enough to survive,” he said.
“We don’t need money and there’s no power, no lights or anything so it’s a different environment.
“The houses are made out of bricks and mud. It looks a bit weird, but it’s actually a good place to live. Nice and cool.”
Taban wants to play AFL. The rebounding defender says he has to improve his fitness, lose weight and gain muscle. But he also knows he can play.
“I can run a fair bit and I can tackle hard,” he said.
“I’ve got height, I can jump and I’ve got a pretty decent leg — left and right.”
In his second senior game, Taban showed a glimpse when he made a 50m dash with the ball and shrugged off two tackles.
It was a long time coming. Taban was introduced to the game in 2008 when a neighbour invited him for a kick.
“I seemed to like it so I thought, ‘Why not? Let’s give this a go’,” Taban said.
“I went to play but I was too young, so I just kept training and training and trying to work on my improvements until I could. I’ve never looked back.”
Originally published as AFL Draft 2015: Patrick Taban aiming at AFL after being born in a refugee camp in Uganda
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