Asian Cup:Socceroos'Awer Mabil's goal celebration reveals mental health tribute
Awer Mabil reveals mental health tribute behind Socceroos goal celebration

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Awer Mabil reveals mental health tribute behind Socceroos goal celebration

ByVince Rugari

Al Ain:Emerging Socceroos star Awer Mabil has revealed the special meaning behind his trademark goal celebration - to raise awareness for people suffering from mental health issues and to remind them there is always help if they need it.

Mabil whipped it out after scoring for the fourth time in seven appearances for Australia with a stunning left-footed strike inTuesday night's pulsating 3-2 victory over Syria in Al Ain,which booked them a place in the Asian Cup's final 16.

After finding the back of the net,Mabil covered his mouth with one hand and placed his other hand over the top,with his index and middle fingers pointing up towards his forehead,a gesture he has been using for some months while playing for both club and country.

Then he made a beeline for Socceroos coach Graham Arnold on the sideline,jumping on top of the man who handed him his debut last October in Kuwait.

The 23-year-old winger explained the two fingers were supposed to represent bringing"peace to the mind"of those who are battling mental illness or depression - and covering his mouth signifies that people confronted by such issues should speak up.

Mabil said he came up with it while sitting around at home in Denmark with one of his best friends,Sione Pisto,a Danish international also of South Sudanese descent who he used to play with at FC Midtjylland.

"We talk a lot and I was just sitting there and I was like,I want to create something for people to be aware of,to bring peace to the mind,"said Mabil,who was born to South Sudanese parents in a Kenyan refugee camp.

"I just came up with that. From then on,ever since I scored I just did it.

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"It's basically representing standing up for the people who are suffering from mental illness or depression. 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.

"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."

Mabil said it was an issue close to his heart,having had his own personal struggles after leaving Adelaide United as a teenager to try his luck overseas.

"It's easy to be isolated,but there's people out there who care for you,"he said.

"I have such a family-orientated club in Denmark,who helped me a lot,and I've seen a lot of people suffering from it.

"I'm there to offer myself to people if they need any kind of attention,I'll be there to guide them through whatever they need."

Mabil said the Socceroos were buzzing after the win,which locks up second place in Group B and sets up a clash with the either Japan or Uzbekistan on Monday - not that he cares who they are drawn with.

"We are not focused on who we're going to play against,"Mabil said.

"I'd be worried for them,because we are just focusing on us and what we need to do. It was fun to be out there - a good atmosphere,great fans out there,great atmosphere. It was really good for us and a challenge that we really wanted,because you have to perform under pressure. We did that and we're carrying the momentum,especially from the last two games,into the knockout stage."

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said the match was a"great learning experience"for players like Mabil,who are new to international football and major tournaments like the Asian Cup.

"A lot of the players that we have here (are) young players and uncapped players that haven't experienced playing in the Middle East,"Arnold said.

"The Syrian fans made a great spectacle of the game and we held our nerve,the younger boys held their nerve and it's a four-year journey we're on. We've started and the boys are buying into it.

"Even young Mabil and (Chris) Ikonomidis,they're two young kids that have just come in and they're scoring goals and doing a lot of hard work."

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