Nelly Yoa has sights set on a spot on an AFL list

A SUDANESE born athlete whose professional soccer career stalled after being slashed in a gang attack is hoping to make his mark in AFL, having impressed Collingwood recruiters.

Nelly Yoa is hopeful of making his mark on AFL, after flirting with a professional soccer career. Picture: Nicki Connolly

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HE’s the lightning fast athlete with an inspirational story and he has his sights set firmly on the AFL.

Moorabbin sportsman and community campaigner Nelly Yoa is attempting a code-switch from soccer to Australian rules football and is calling on clubs to give him a chance.

Yoa can run the 3km time-trial in under 10 minutes and the 100m in an elite 10.97 sec — something that shouldn’t surprise given he got sprinting tips from a quick-footed friend by the name of Usain Bolt.

The Sudanese-born speedster stands 195cm but his career was cut down in 2011 when a gang of thugs armed with machetes hacked into him as he tried to defend a mate outside a beauty pageant in Melbourne.

At the time of the attack Yoa was on the cusp of joining Melbourne Victory, having returned to Australia from playing soccer in England, China and Malta.

His arms were sliced open as he defended himself and his legs were repeatedly beaten — the brutal and unprovoked act would put Yoa on the sidelines for seven months and halted his career.

Despite the brutal 2011 attack, at the hands of criminals with Sudanese heritage, Yoa hasn’t turned his back on his countrymen.

He now mentors troubled youth in an effort to steer them away from a life of crime, even introducing some of these children to Bolt earlier this month.

Nelly Yoa shows the scars he sustained in a machete attack in 2011.

Nelly Yoa had hoped for a professional soccer career. Picture: David Smith

“As a proud Australian, with African heritage, I know all too well the difficulties faced by migrants, especially those of my Sudanese community,” Mr Yoa said.

“I dislike seeing reports of some Africans using what has happened in their own country as an excuse to commit crimes. But, I get equally anxious when I see reports of Sudanese people being yelled at in the street, typecast as gang members and stopped by police.”

Yoa returned to Malta after the attack and pursued his soccer career before returning to Australia in 2015 and trialling with Melbourne City in 2016.

He couldn’t come to terms with Tim Cahill’s club and in a shock twist wound up training with Collingwood last month at the invite of club president Eddie McGuire.

Nelly Yoa has spent some time training with Collingwood. Picture: David Caird

“What the club liked about me was my fitness and that I picked up the game very quickly compared to some of the players who have never played AFL before,” Yoa said.

“I’ve fallen in love with the game now and I’m passionate about AFL — I think I have a lot to offer a club, on and off the field.”

Collingwood didn’t pick Yoa up this year but he said they were happy to look at him again next season.

However, at 27, Yoa is keen to make his mark on Australia’s sport now.

He said whichever club picked him up would not only benefit from his athletic ability, but his dedication to multiculturalism and social progress.