Nine years ago, a young Adil Ali landed in Australia as a refugee from Sudan.
Now, Mr Ali is now an influential figure in Logan’s soccer community and a Logan Legend award recipient who finds satisfaction in giving back to the community that gave him a dream and the means to achieve it.
“I wanted to give back to the community by coaching, by reffing, by keeping the youth away from the street and telling them there are opportunities for you,” he said.
Mr Ali is the Logan Roos Football Club vice president and junior program head coach, sports teacher and head of football at the Islamic College of Brisbane, director of volunteer organisation Youth Connect Queensland and juggling studies.
He credits his achievements to the love and support the club gave him since young, when he was a young Sudanese refugee still finding his footing in Australia in 2017.
“In the beginning I was super, super shy. I couldn’t speak in public at all,” Mr Ali said.
“We came to Australia with nothing. I was nobody. Nobody knew me. But thanks to the club, they went out of their way to help me.”
Mr Ali was a striker when he started his journey with the Logan Roos, and he’s stayed with the club since then, representing both their junior and senior sides.
He credited the club with helping him find his purpose by guiding young kids to achieve their dreams.
“I wanted to give back to the community. I didn’t know where to start, but (the coaches) said, ‘you could be a teacher. You could be a sports teacher. You could do something greater than this. You could become an athlete.'”
“I was like, ‘Me? You’re telling me?’ Because I know myself very well, I’m a shy person.”
“But, when I saw those little kids running, I said, ‘I know it’s too late for me as a player, but I can give my skills to them so they can reach that level.’ If they succeed, it’s as if I’ve succeeded.”
“I had no dream, no hope, because I didn’t know what to do. But being here, I saw so many kids that can do better than me, so I needed to step up for them and be an example for them.”
For now, Mr Ali is focused on helping his Logan Roos kids in whatever way he can.
“I could not become a professional athlete, but they can be. The Olympics could be around the corner. If they need me, I’ll always be there with them to guide them.”
“To me, they’re in the right place. They’re in the right country and in the right hands.”
Mr Ali remains grateful to the Australian government for supporting him and housing him as a refugee, and he dreams of one day meeting the Prime Minister to thank him and Australia, and possibly even help coach the Socceroos.
“I got that support, and I got to do my studies, help my family, become something only in Australia,” he said.
“My advice is always to be grateful — grateful for where you are and what you do. Always look forward, be brave, and enjoy the moment.”
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