The doom and gloom surrounding football at the moment is almost too much to take for a self-confessed huge fan of modern football and everything that is the Hyundai A-League, warts and all. We need more positivity around the round-ball game.
Unfortunately this week, we’ve seen racism rear its ugly head yet again on the international stage with the Bulgaria vs England game stopped on several occasions due to racist comments and actions from the crowd, targeting England stars. This has no place in the game.
There’s no better time to celebrate the ever-growing number of African-Australian players in the A-League who are either first-generation Australians or whose parents have claimed Australia as their own, usually after fleeing a war-torn country or one where there is political upheaval.
While few and far between in the early years of the competition, there has been a steady growth of these outstandingly talented individuals over the course of the A-League, and the trickle will only become a flood as opportunities expand and they are plucked from the National Premier Leagues and A-League academies.
Looking at the opening round of the A-League and the broader squads on offer, players like Adama Traore, Bruce Kamau, Elvis Kamsoba and the newly anointed King of Adelaide Al-Hassan Toure all bring their own piece of excitement to our competition and hopefully will continue to do so for years ahead.
From trail-blazers like Bruce Djite to record-breakers like Teeboy Kamara and Alusine Fofanah plus modern-day Socceroos Awer Mabil and Thomas Deng, these are the sorts of players who make you stand up and pay attention. They’re heroes among fans and role models for the generations to come.
(Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images)
With this in mind, I’ve put together an all time A-League African-Australian XI. It’s a 4-3-3 formation, and to qualify you have to have made at least 50 A-League appearances. There is one ring-in who is a New Zealander born to Ghanain parents, but we love a ring in – especially when they’re a Kiwi!
African-Australian A-League all stars
Tando Velaphi (Zimbabwe/Australia)
Adama Traore (Cote d’Ivoire/Australia)
Thomas Deng (South Sudan/Australia)
Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Mauritius/Australia)
Jason Geria (Uganda/Australia)
Bruce Kamau (Kenya/Australia)
Kearyn Baccus (South Africa/Australia)
Kwabena Appiah-Kubi (Ghana/New Zealand)
Golgol Mebrahtu (Eritrea/Australia)
Bruce Djite (Togo/Australia)
Bernie Ibini-Isei (Nigeria/Australia)
There are, of course, players who miss out due to the 50-appearance rule who would obviously make the grade, including Mabil, Keanu Baccus and Kwame Yeboah.
The neat thing I discovered by leaving out Rashid Mahazi and adding Kwabena Appiah-Kubi was it meant that there are 11 different African nationalities included in the line-up, which is quite incredible.
When you look at some of the best young talent both in the A-League and coming through the NPL ranks, you can’t help but notice that these Australians with African heritage certainly add tremendous amounts of excitement in our game now, and will do so in the future.
Have I missed anyone? Who would you rate as the best ever?
Chopper
Guest
While your sentiment may be great the divisions this creates could drive a wedge in footballs society. Australian though multicultural works very hard to make everyone have equal opportunities and call themselves Australian. Sport itself is the equalizer and by adding cliques of players from ethnic backgrounds you open up the chances of racism springing its ugly head again. In a successful league there is no time for these devisive gimmicks.
Maximus1
Guest
Patrick Kisnorbo
Tyke
Roar Rookie
How about none of them?
josh
Guest
Keanu is infinitely better than Kearyn FYI
Nick Symonds
Guest
I’m not a fan of the Fox Sports led gimmicks as it singles out a community and excludes others who arguably have more skin in the Australian Football game! Indigenous Football Week/Round? Big Yes. I would be happy if all others were covered in a “World Game Week” or “Multicultural Round”. > > The trouble with a Multicultural Round is that it's a bit wide sweeping. At the same time, if you have different rounds for each community there aren't enough rounds in the season. How about a series of continental rounds + an Indigenous Round: African Round Asian Round Americas Round European Round Pacific Islands Round Indigenous Round - That way it could be a bit more focused instead of putting them all in the same box.
BlueFinger
Roar Rookie
I'm not a fan of the Fox Sports led gimmicks as it singles out a community and excludes others who arguably have more skin in the Australian Football game! Indigenous Football Week/Round? Big Yes. I would be happy if all others were covered in a "World Game Week" or "Multicultural Round". Then I would absolutely get a Thomas Deng or Awer Mabil to speak and put their stories out there again and again. As you say, these communities are often marginalized and anything we can do as a game to give them positive role models, I'm all for it.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
I think thats a good idea
Nick Symonds
Guest
All these players are great ambassadors for the African Australian community at a time when they often face negative portrayals in the news media. They aren't just playing football, they're building bridges between African Australians and the rest of the community. Do you think there should be an African Round the same way that there's a Spanish Round and an Indigenous Football Week?
Griffo
Roar Guru
He seems to be getting starting opportunities and performing so hopefully he keeps achieving even greater things. A good season scoring goals will get him noticed by everyone real quick.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
John Roberts just signed by the Mariners... someone to watch... and tis a tad to early to add to your list but illustrates the theme of your article.. https://www.ccmariners.com.au/news/john-roberts-signs-central-coast-mariners
Franko
Guest
If you take a look at France, Belgium etc. It's the African heritage players that have really excelled them, internationally and in their domestic competitions. No reason to think we can't do the same. I can only assume it is due to immigration patterns and not opportunities but how many have come via South Australia ? - Osama Malik - Ruon Tongyik - Bruce Kamau - Elvis Kambosa - Awer Mabil - Thomas Deng No doubt a few others I'm neglecting.
Franko
Guest
I dont think it worked out for Jonas and he's back in Adelaide, not sure if it's in an official capacity.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Al-Hassan Toure also scored a few goals during the FFA Cup campaign. He looks promising and he came to Australia when he was only 4, so hopefully he'll choose to play for the Socceroos rather than Guinea if he gets a call up.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Jonas Salley, now coaching in China.