Comments on: Remarkable story of Socceroo hopeful Popal http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/ The Roar is a sports opinion website. We tackle sports opinion rather than simply sports news. And we embed user-generated content — in the form of articles and comments — into the fabric of the site. Featuring some of the best sports writers in Australia — including the Sydney Morning Herald's Spiro Zavos — The Roar aims to be the leading sports website in Australia. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:07:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Gweeds http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-252548 Gweeds Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:52:59 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-252548 The only part of the story that doesn't quite gels with me is how a refugee from Kabul who lives in Blacktown managed to spend a year playing soccer in Brazil? The only part of the story that doesn’t quite gels with me is how a refugee from Kabul who lives in Blacktown managed to spend a year playing soccer in Brazil?

]]> By: albatross http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-248370 albatross Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:33:44 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-248370 The editor and writers of the Blacktown Advocate (a Murdoch giveaway) deserve great kudos. The paper carries many excellent news stories (not just advertorial) with a local focus and in particular has been at the forefront of promoting a positive view of multiculturalism in the city through articles such as this and some wonderful photography for a number of years. Lest Pip and Michael C be concerned the front page story of the 11th November issue carried the headline "Sheedy swoops" with a big photo of some old codger punching what appears to be an ovoid red melon (it can't be a football because he was using his hands).. The editor and writers of the Blacktown Advocate (a Murdoch giveaway) deserve great kudos. The paper carries many excellent news stories (not just advertorial) with a local focus and in particular has been at the forefront of promoting a positive view of multiculturalism in the city through articles such as this and some wonderful photography for a number of years.

Lest Pip and Michael C be concerned the front page story of the 11th November issue carried the headline “Sheedy swoops” with a big photo of some old codger punching what appears to be an ovoid red melon (it can’t be a football because he was using his hands)..

]]> By: Griffo http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-248198 Griffo Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:51:45 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-248198 Ditto the great article. Hope he gets off to a flying start and gets on Pim's or whoever's radar sooner than later. Plenty of refugees who just kick the ball around all day. Gold Coast United signed up a player doing just this. Goldmine in our own backyard and we can't be bothered looking. Ditto the great article. Hope he gets off to a flying start and gets on Pim’s or whoever’s radar sooner than later. Plenty of refugees who just kick the ball around all day. Gold Coast United signed up a player doing just this. Goldmine in our own backyard and we can’t be bothered looking.

]]> By: Ben of Phnom Penh http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-248165 Ben of Phnom Penh Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:52:35 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-248165 Great article, Midfielder. It's nice to have some perspective now and then. Great article, Midfielder. It’s nice to have some perspective now and then.

]]> By: Gibbo http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-247100 Gibbo Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:08:07 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-247100 Its a shame the 'refugee come good' story this month is Bangs, the footscray based sudanese refugee "rapper", complete with open derision and thinly veiled racism... So where does Popal play on the park? Anyone know anything about him as a player? Its a shame the ‘refugee come good’ story this month is Bangs, the footscray based sudanese refugee “rapper”, complete with open derision and thinly veiled racism…

So where does Popal play on the park? Anyone know anything about him as a player?

]]> By: Midfielder http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246528 Midfielder Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:30:36 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246528 gazz Thanks for that .. my bad ... gazz

Thanks for that .. my bad …

]]> By: Freud of Football http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246243 Freud of Football Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:08:18 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246243 Mid, I was in America during the 2004 elections and didn't find out about until the boxing day tsunami (the one that killed 230,000 people) until a week later when I managed to get myself on to a computer. The news was full of the election and something that huge didn't get mentioned. The priorities of journo's and editor's are not those of the people. Mid, I was in America during the 2004 elections and didn’t find out about until the boxing day tsunami (the one that killed 230,000 people) until a week later when I managed to get myself on to a computer. The news was full of the election and something that huge didn’t get mentioned.

The priorities of journo’s and editor’s are not those of the people.

]]> By: gazz http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246151 gazz Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:27:11 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246151 yo David, Panthrakikos, not Panathinaikos. both Super League clubs though, but ones a relegation battlers, the other is a regular title contender. big difference, just wanted to clear that up. still great story for this young fella, all the best to him. yo David, Panthrakikos, not Panathinaikos. both Super League clubs though, but ones a relegation battlers, the other is a regular title contender. big difference, just wanted to clear that up.

still great story for this young fella, all the best to him.

]]> By: Midfielder http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246085 Midfielder Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:44:28 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246085 Agree on the A-League teams... also how has SBS missed this story ... maybe not South Amercian Agree on the A-League teams… also how has SBS missed this story … maybe not South Amercian

]]> By: westy http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246052 westy Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:55:10 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246052 midfielder great human interest story. Not only News limited but all the press. A Current Affair or Seven's counterpart Today tonight would also do well to have a positive news refugee story.Even SBS might be interested? keep the good fight going. midfielder great human interest story. Not only News limited but all the press. A Current Affair or Seven’s counterpart Today tonight would also do well to have a positive news refugee story.Even SBS might be interested?
keep the good fight going.

]]> By: whiskeymac http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246049 whiskeymac Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:51:31 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246049 as an aside - he's 21, a western sydney local since he was fairly young (was it 12 or 13 i cant remember) and obviously talented having represented Aus at beach football level... pity that SFC or another HAL club didn't have any scouts/ contacts looking at him. am oping that Wanderers might tap into this market a bit more effectively - how many other Popals or Davies are being "missed"? as an aside – he’s 21, a western sydney local since he was fairly young (was it 12 or 13 i cant remember) and obviously talented having represented Aus at beach football level… pity that SFC or another HAL club didn’t have any scouts/ contacts looking at him. am oping that Wanderers might tap into this market a bit more effectively – how many other Popals or Davies are being “missed”?

]]> By: whiskeymac http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246038 whiskeymac Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:40:56 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246038 yeah agree. good story and well worth championing. similar to the kid from WA who has signed with Bayern (development team level) who is also an immigrant refugee but doing a rag-riches footy story that was in the paper recently. Julius Davies. these kind of stories are great reading and can only wish the kids all the best in their careers, and hopefully they reach socceroo levels too! yeah agree. good story and well worth championing. similar to the kid from WA who has signed with Bayern (development team level) who is also an immigrant refugee but doing a rag-riches footy story that was in the paper recently. Julius Davies. these kind of stories are great reading and can only wish the kids all the best in their careers, and hopefully they reach socceroo levels too!

]]> By: Midfielder http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246035 Midfielder Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:39:13 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246035 Thanks guys for the comments .. if you have not read the links at the opening ..I suggest you do especially the remarkable link... just such a great story .... Many moons ago I was a consultant to News at their Parrmatta local ..Cimberland Newspapers... they have huge printning facilities there and print a number of local papers... But many News jurno's drop in and work from their ... and always the latest newspapers are always on display and within the News family many News people meet and chat discuss issues etc... It beggers disbelief that the Terror or OZ folk well at least some would not have seen this story ... like if the BBC know about it then wow we don't... But it kinda goes beyonf that we have our troops in Afghanistan... if the Commonwealth Government ever wanted a PR story ... then it's this kid ... but is he two successful and would this play into the hands of the let everybody in group ... Assuming you read the remarkable link... he talks of the goldern soil.. the beach .. how Aussie can you get... and he loves the Green & Gold, loves Australia, wants to help other refuges learn to love Australia... If this is not a front page mainstream newspaper story and a leading TV News story ... and topic for the TV morning shows ... then what the hell is.. I hope Khalil gets to play for the Socceroos ... I will do everything I can to shake his hand and get him to sign my shirt... Thanks guys for the comments .. if you have not read the links at the opening ..I suggest you do especially the remarkable link… just such a great story ….

Many moons ago I was a consultant to News at their Parrmatta local ..Cimberland Newspapers… they have huge printning facilities there and print a number of local papers… But many News jurno’s drop in and work from their … and always the latest newspapers are always on display and within the News family many News people meet and chat discuss issues etc… It beggers disbelief that the Terror or OZ folk well at least some would not have seen this story … like if the BBC know about it then wow we don’t…

But it kinda goes beyonf that we have our troops in Afghanistan… if the Commonwealth Government ever wanted a PR story … then it’s this kid … but is he two successful and would this play into the hands of the let everybody in group …

Assuming you read the remarkable link… he talks of the goldern soil.. the beach .. how Aussie can you get… and he loves the Green & Gold, loves Australia, wants to help other refuges learn to love Australia…

If this is not a front page mainstream newspaper story and a leading TV News story … and topic for the TV morning shows … then what the hell is..

I hope Khalil gets to play for the Socceroos … I will do everything I can to shake his hand and get him to sign my shirt…

]]> By: K B http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246028 K B Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:24:27 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246028 Midfielder, that's a very nice little human interest sorry -- well done to bring it to the attention of the Roar posters... ;) ~~~~~~~ KB Midfielder,
that’s a very nice little human interest sorry — well done to bring it to the attention of the Roar posters… ;)

~~~~~~~
KB

]]> By: dasilva http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246014 dasilva Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:54:12 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246014 Add refugee to that list Add refugee to that list

]]> By: cab711 http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246011 cab711 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:49:10 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246011 Beautiful story, comes as no surprise though. Only Kiwi refugees hate Australia. Beautiful story, comes as no surprise though. Only Kiwi refugees hate Australia.

]]> By: Macs.football http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246010 Macs.football Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:47:21 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246010 Why have the local media not reported this? 1. He's an immigrant 2. He plays football. Why have the local media not reported this?
1. He’s an immigrant
2. He plays football.

]]> By: dasilva http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-246003 dasilva Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:35:49 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-246003 Thank you midfielder for telling about Popal It's a great migrant and refugee story and I sadly haven't heard about it. Unfortunately refugee success stories aren't very sexy right now. Let's hope he succeeds in Europe however, I'm wondering does he have to jump hoops to play for Australia similar to Kofi Danning After all the rules state that if you aren't born here in Australia and you haven't got Australian parents then you have to live in the country for 5 years after the age of 18 before you are eligible to play for the socceroos. My opinion of this rule is well known but let's hope common sense prevails again. Thank you midfielder for telling about Popal

It’s a great migrant and refugee story and I sadly haven’t heard about it. Unfortunately refugee success stories aren’t very sexy right now.

Let’s hope he succeeds in Europe

however, I’m wondering does he have to jump hoops to play for Australia similar to Kofi Danning
After all the rules state that if you aren’t born here in Australia and you haven’t got Australian parents then you have to live in the country for 5 years after the age of 18 before you are eligible to play for the socceroos.

My opinion of this rule is well known but let’s hope common sense prevails again.

]]> By: David http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/14/the-remarkable-story-of-future-socceroo-khalil-popal/#comment-245990 David Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:20:46 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=25263#comment-245990 wow really Pana FC there a good club how old is this kid? what position does he play? wow really Pana FC there a good club how old is this kid? what position does he play?

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