Moving and living in Egypt
Childhood in Sudan
An introduction
Playing with Werribee and being given number one ruck duties was one of the highlights of my year. The Tigers, coming off a poor season the previous season had many changes made to the club. A new coach and a new game plan ensured we were an immense force in the VFL.
To play in three finals and fall only one game short of a Grand Final was a massive achievement for the club considering it was considered an outside chance at the start of the year. It was a credit to the playing group who had faith in the coach and progressed together as a team. I was bitterly disappointed to miss out on the preliminary final due to a finger injury. I have never felt so isolated and helpless sitting on the sideline and watching the boys lose.
Having a big year of footy and playing 20 games straight was a record for me personally. It's something I have never been able to do in my short football career.
To celebrate the season a few team-mates and I went on a holiday to Thailand for 10 days. It was a much needed rejuvenating holiday. We stayed in Phuket for a week. It was a vibrant and busy place. Some of the things I witnessed on the streets were eye opening. I was being called "chocolate man” everywhere I went - it didn’t sit well with me. I had to remind myself that I was in a different country, unlike Australia where comments like that are frowned upon.
We left Phuket for Koh Samui, a small island located on the east coast of Thailand, and spent three nights there before returning home.
The trip made me appreciate Australia as a country and its people. I think we are very lucky to have a nation that has governing rules to ensure everyone is living a humane life.
All in all it has been a tremendous year of football and it was topped off with Daniel Wells and Andrew Swallow sharing the Syd Barker Medal. I admire both of them.
