Where Omar Alam is from, they play football with a round ball.
The 17-year-old hails from Torino in
Omar is an exchange student with World Education Program Australia (WEP) and discovered the sport through his host family, who reside in Cockatoo on the outskirts of
For many of us growing up, Australian football is almost unavoidable. We grow up with a football in our hands almost as a birthright. Understanding the skills, teams, rules and positions is second nature.
For new Australians and visitors, our game is a foreign entity with many different variables and expectations. These factors make Omar’s an even more amazing story.
Not only has Omar accomplished the skills of the game but he has embraced the sport and has become a real footy fan, picking up the game like a seasoned veteran.
His baptism to the sport came one evening when he was watching the Gembrook-Cockatoo U18s team training.
He was approached by the coach to play and decided it would be a great opportunity, but was surprised to learn he had been selected for that weekend’s game.
After getting used to the shape of the ball and rules (like no off-sides), he made his debut and was named in the team’s best in only his second game.
From these humble first steps Omar the Aussie Rules player was born.
“I wasn’t expecting it –I had never played before, it was great,” he said.
“Once I got my first tackle I thought, I like this game, and felt more comfortable.”
Omar, who has adopted the Tigers as his team of choice, returns to
He joins a prestigious list of talented Australian football players with Italian heritage to have played the game at many levels, and with talent academies for sportsman like soccer goalkeepers, it won’t be long until AFL clubs discover what may lie in the country ironically shaped like a footy boot.
Omar won’t be the last visitor or international to discover this fantastic game, but he is a fine example that proves Australian football may not be the world game, but is a game for all the world..jpg)
Omar with Richmond players Cam Howat, Daniel Jackson and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
