Australian rules football in Africa

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The South African Lions in action against Ireland during the 2008 Australian Football International Cup in Melbourne Field kicking South Africa vs. Ireland 2.jpg
The South African Lions in action against Ireland during the 2008 Australian Football International Cup in Melbourne

Australian rules football in Africa is most organised in South Africa, although there are programs under development in many African nations including Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe and there are plans to introduce the sport into more African countries.

Contents

Immigration to Australia saw a rise in the number of Africans playing in the Australian Football League, among the first were African-Americans like Tom Banks and South Africans including Aubrey MacKenzie and Damien Cupido.

Kevin Sheedy predicted an African future for the AFL when he recruited Ethiopian Goaner Tutlan in 2004. The success of Majak Daw saw a rise in the popularity of AFL among South Sudanese migrants [1] which have attracted the attention of AFL recruiters in search for the combination of height and athleticism. [2] An increasing number of players descended from the Indigenous peoples of Africa have played professionally in the Australian Football League, holding African Australian identity.

Botswana

The government of Botswana approached the AFL in 2009 with a view to extending the FootyWILD program from South Africa across the border into Botswana. Australian football in South Africa began in the North West Province, an area bordering Botswana and with numerous cultural, linguistic and historical ties to the neighboring country. [3]

Ethiopia

While the sport hasn't been played in Ethiopia, the country is notable for producing AFL players from the migrant community in Australia.

Notable players

PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Ethiopia, References
Changkuoth Jiath 2018-452Born Mekelle [4]
Goaner Tutlan2004--Born [5]

Egypt

Australian rules football was played by the ANZACs in Egypt during World War I. The sport has since been revived by Australian expats, with an Auskick program being started in Cairo. [6] The Australian Embassy in Cairo has backed the program. [7]

Notable players

PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Egypt, References
James Borlase 2023-10Born Cairo [8] [9]
Mac Andrew 2022-100Born Cairo [10]
Ahmed Saad 2012-20153348Parents [11]

Ghana

Australian football was played on a non-organised level in Ghana in 2007, where traveling Australians played with children. [12]

In early 2009, AFL club the Western Bulldogs announced that they were in talks with Azumah Nelson regarding the introduction of Australian rules football at the Azumah Nelson Foundation (AZNEF) Sports Academy. [13] Nelson was quoted as saying "Once we become familiar with handling the oval shaped ball, I am sure that Ghana will produce many champions for the AFL Clubs in Australia" [14] The Bulldogs also stated that they may travel to Ghana to visit the AZNEF Sports Academy in future. [14]

Notable players

Connor Idun Connor Idun 2019.2.jpg
Connor Idun
Joel Amartey Joel Amartey 2018.1.jpg
Joel Amartey
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Ghana, References
Brandon Walker 2021-371Born [15]
Connor Idun 2019-390Father [16]
Isaac Quaynor 2019-713Father [17] [18]
Joel Amartey 2018-1716Father [19]

Kenya

There have been efforts to start the sport at junior level since 2004. [20] Gus Horsey from the Baltimore Washington Eagles from the United States Australian Football League visited the country in February and September, running several footy clinics and organising a grand final between four local teams in Nairobi. During Horsey's second visit to Kenya to coach Australian rules, he regularly trained over 100 children after school with help from local soccer coaches, [21] although plans through USFooty Kids to continue the clinics in the future did not go ahead.

The AFL reported in 2009 that junior clinics were being conducted in Kenya under the same model as FootyWILD in South Africa. [3]

In 2015, schoolboys international matches were held on the Kenya-Tanzania border. [22]

Notable players

Bigoa Nyuon Bigoa Nyuon 11.07.21.jpg
Bigoa Nyuon
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Kenya, References
Leek Aleer 2022-30Born [23]
Bigoa Nyuon 2022-10Born Nairobi [24]
Sophie McDonald 2020-260Parent [25]
Tony Olango2017--Born [26]
Aliir Aliir 2014-1145Born Kakuma [27]

Malawi

Educaring Africa ran clinics Ntakataka Village in Monkey Bay in 2019. [28]

Nigeria

While the sport hasn't been played in Nigeria, some AFL players from the migrant community in Australia have strong connections to the country.

Notable players

Joel Wilkinson 38 Joel Wilkinson 4.png
Joel Wilkinson
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Nigeria, References
Stefan Okunbor 2023---Parents [25]
Joel Wilkinson 2011-2013261Father [29]

Senegal

Australian rules football was played sporadically in Senegal during the 1990s, after Darwin-based Mark Moretti visited Dakar for two months in 1991. Moretti had introduced the sport to local children originally as an example of overseas culture, but there was interest from both the children and some local soccer administrators in continuing the sport. When Moretti returned in 1997 there had not been any progress, so he organised some footballs and other material to be sent to Senegal and the country was represented at the International Australian Football Council AGM in Darwin in 1999. [30] Around this time, two teams were established, named the Crocodiles and the Hares, but the sport has since disappeared in the country.

A team representing Senegal appeared at the "World 9s" in Catalonia in 2008, consisting of Senegalese nationals resident in Spain and competing in the Catalan AFL.

Collingwood FC recruited 202cm Senegalese basketballer Bassirou Faye as an international rookie in 2021.

South Africa

The Witwatersrand Gold Rush brought miners from Australia to South Africa and records indicate that it was played from the 1880s to 1909 and was for a time during 1904, the most popular football code in the colony. It was reintroduced by the Australian Defence Force in 1997 and in the 2000s became one of the fastest growing places for the sport outside of Australia, becoming widely played in the North West Province with tens of thousands of players. The governing body is AFL South Africa.

Sudan

While the sport hasn't been played in Sudan, the country is notable for producing AFL players from the migrant community in Australia.

Notable players

Majak Daw Majak Daw 2018.2.jpg
Majak Daw
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Sudan, References
Domanic Akuei 2022---Born [31]
Bigoa Nyuon 2022-10Parents [32]
Mac Andrew 2022-100Parents [33]
Tarir Bayok2020--Born [34]
Buku Khamis 2019-96Born [35]
Tony Olango2017--Parents [36]
Majak Daw 2011-20225443Born Khartoum [37]

South Sudan

While the sport hasn't been played in South Sudan, the country is notable for producing many AFL players from the migrant community in Australia. A team representing South Sudan has won the World 9s twice most recently in 2021. [38]

Notable players

Akec Makur Chuot Akec Makur Chuot 23.02.20.jpg
Akec Makur Chuot
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to South Sudan, References
Bigoa Nyuon 2022-10Parents [39]
Mac Andrew 2022-100Parents [40]
Leek Aleer 2022-30Parents [23]
Martin Frederick 2021-142Parents [41]
Michael Frederick 2020-4858Parents [41]
Tom Jok 2019-10Born Nasir [42]
Changkuoth Jiath 2018-452Parents [43]
Akec Makur Chuot 2017-332Born Yirol [44]
Mabior Chol 2016-5675Born [45]
Reuben William 2016-201730Born Wau [46]
Gach Nyuon 2016-2017--Born, parents [47]
Aliir Aliir 2014-1145Parents [48]

Uganda

Non-organised Australian football at junior level featuring locals has been played in Uganda in 2006. [49]

Western Sahara

Australian football was played on an informal basis in Western Sahara in 2008. [50]

Zimbabwe

The sport of Australian rules football is[ when? ] in its early stages of development in Zimbabwe, [51] with Australian Football Zimbabwe [51] in the planning stage, with its main aims being to combine Aussie rules football as a developing sport, with health clinics and information sessions to be run to assist disadvantaged and sick children.

In 2020, AFL Zimbabwe was formed as the governing body for the sport in Zimbabwe. [52]

Notable players

Tendai Mzungu Tendai-Mzungu-Finals-2015.jpg
Tendai Mzungu
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Zimbabwe, References
Tendai Mzungu 2011-201710555Father [53]
Ian Perrie 1998-2007116129Born

Other AFL nationalities

An increasing number of players descended from the Indigenous peoples of Africa have played professionally in the Australian Football League, holding African Australian identity. The successful career of Majak Daw in the AFL is credited as having inspired many children from the South Sudanese migrant community in Australia to take up the sport. [54]

Heritier Lumumba Heritier Lumumba 2015.JPG
Héritier Lumumba
PlayerAFL/AFLW Years*AFL/AFLW Matches*AFL/AFLW Goals*Connections to Africa, References
Héritier Lumumba 2005-201622330 Congolese-Angolan father [55]

Team Africa at the International Cup

A team known as Team Africa, drawn from various Melbourne African communities, competed in the 2008 Australian Football International Cup's Multicultural Challenge, playing matches against South Africa, Tonga and an Asian community side dubbed Team Asia. [56]

Team Africa's players were from countries including Somalia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Djibouti. [56]

Related Research Articles

The Australian Football International Cup is a triennial international tournament in Australian rules football. It is the biggest international tournament in the sport that is open to all nations. More than 26 nations have participated and the competition has expanded into multiple pools and both men and women's divisions. At the time of the last tournament in 2017, the sport had a record 170,744 registered players outside Australia growing at a rate of 25% per annum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auskick</span> Australian rules football program for children

Auskick is a program designed to teach the basic skills of Australian football to boys and girls aged between 5 and 12. Auskick is a non-contact variant of the sport. It began in Australia and is now a nationwide non-selective program. It has increased participation and diversity in the sport amongst children, and is now being run in many countries across the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Australian rules football</span>

The Geography of Australian rules football describes the sport of Australian rules football played in more than 60 countries around the world. By 2017 more than 26 nations had contested the Australian Football International Cup, the highest level of worldwide competition.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Australian rules football</span> Female-only form of Australian rules football

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFL South Africa</span>

AFL South Africa is the governing body and federation for Australian rules football in South Africa. Its name is due to its formal affiliation in 2004 to the AFL Commission the game's world governing body.

Australian rules football in South Africa is a team sport played at amateur level in the country with a small audience. The governing body is AFL South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Countries playing Australian rules football</span>

Note: In order to be recognised as a true national team and not simply expatriates, the list is subject to International Cup eligibility rules.

African Australians are Australians of sub-Saharan African ancestry, including naturalised Australians who are immigrants from various regions in sub-Saharan Africa and descendants of such immigrants.

Australian rules football in Asia dates back to 1910 but was only sporadically played until the 1980s after which it has boomed. Clubs have begun in most Asian countries and a governing body for the region, AFL Asia was formed in 2008 to coordinate the Asian Championship and promote its affiliated leagues. AFL Asia estimates that there are now more than 10,000 Australian Football players across the continent.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian rules football culture</span>

Australian rules football culture is the cultural aspects surrounding the game of Australian rules football, particular to Australia and the areas where it is most popular. This article explores aspects and issues surrounding the game, as well as the players, and society. Australian Rules is a sport rich in tradition and Australian cultural references, especially surrounding the rituals of gameday for players, officials, and supporters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majak Daw</span> Australian rules footballer

Majak Daw is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Daw and his family in Australia are refugees from the civil wars in Sudan. Daw became the first Sudanese Australian to be drafted to an AFL club when he was contracted to North Melbourne in the 2009 AFL Draft. Daw's drafting gained international attention; it was reported by the BBC and the Voice of America. He made his first appearance for North Melbourne in a NAB Cup match on 20 February 2011.

South Sudanese Australians are people of South Sudanese ancestry or birth who live in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Football International</span>

Australian Football International (AFI), is a world development body for the sport of Australian rules football. The organisation has developed a version of the sport known as Footy 9s that it claims will support global expansion of Australian rules football, and lead to it becoming an Olympic sport.

Nyadol Nyuon, is an Australian lawyer and human rights advocate, who was born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, of a family fleeing the Second Sudanese Civil War. She works as a commercial litigator in Melbourne and is a regular media commentator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigoa Nyuon</span> Australian rules footballer

Bigoa Nyuon is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played his first AFL match on 14 May 2022 against Hawthorn Football Club.

References

  1. ↑ Daw-inspiring feats bring Sudan into the heart of Aussie sport The Australian 20 Apr 2013
  2. ↑ Neil Cordy for Code Sports 24 October 2022
  3. 1 2 "FootyWILD set to take Africa by storm? - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Hawks debutant 'rattled' after getting call-up". The West Australian. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  5. ↑ "Ethiopian hopes to make mark for Africa - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "AFL revival in Egypt century after Anzacs". 17 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Australian Embassy in Cairo Gets Footys into Egypt - World Footy News".
  8. ↑ James BORLASE from Adelaide Crows
  9. ↑ Crows' Next Generation Academy prospect James Borlase from The Advertiser 3 December 2020
  10. ↑ Suns to unleash the Mac attack: Prized No.5 pick to debut By Callum Twomey 28 July 2022
  11. ↑ Ahmed Saad. "Ahmed Saad". saints.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "West African kids kick the Aussie Footy in soccer's heartland - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  13. ↑ "Ghana and Azumah Nelson look to AFL and Bulldogs - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  14. 1 2 Bulldogs look to forge ties in Ghana – Herald Sun
  15. ↑ "Fremantle Dockers NGA players". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  16. ↑ Cool Connor standing out down back from the Geelong Advertiser 12 July 2018
  17. ↑ A taste of Richmond, but Collingwood looms for Quaynor by Daniel Cherny for The Age 16 November 2018
  18. ↑ ‘Not OK’: Collingwood seek to correct dearth of Indigenous players by Michael Gleeson for The Age 1 February 2021
  19. ↑ "How racial abuse led Joel Amartey to his AFL debut" . Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  20. ↑ Aussie Rules International – Kenya Archived 9 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ "Footy a welcome hit in Kenya - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  22. ↑ Dust to dust: footy takes off in Africa Conor Walsh on Aug 23, 2015
  23. 1 2 "Leek Aleer". gwsgiants.com.au. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  24. ↑ Mum's journey inspires Sudanese refugee Biggie Nyuon towards AFL dream Sean Sowerby 7NEWS 20th November 2019
  25. 1 2 "2021 AFL Players Association Multicultural Map". AFLPA. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  26. ↑ pposites attract for Kenyan-born ruck talent By Marc McGowan 27 November 2017
  27. ↑ "Aliir's incredible journey from Kakuma to AFL". ESPN.com. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  28. ↑ Educaring Africa – Kicking Goals in Malawi 14 November 2019
  29. ↑ "Joel Wilkinson still making his stand against racism - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  30. ↑ Footy Kicks Off in West Africa Archived 9 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ↑ Sudan, Egypt, Carlton: Why Dom is always daring to dream By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media 24 May 2023
  32. ↑ Mum's journey inspires Sudanese refugee Biggie Nyuon towards AFL dream Sean Sowerby 7NEWS 20th November 2019
  33. ↑ Suns to unleash the Mac attack: Prized No.5 pick to debut By Callum Twomey 28 July 2022
  34. ↑ Tarir Bayok West Coast Eagles draftee
  35. ↑ Dinham, Abby (2 May 2017). "From South Sudanese refugee to the 2018 AFL draft: Buku Khamis is making his mark". SBS World News . Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  36. ↑ pposites attract for Kenyan-born ruck talent By Marc McGowan 27 November 2017
  37. ↑ McFarlane, Glenn (20 February 2011). "Majak Daw's big move". Sunday Herald Sun . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  38. ↑ South Sudan AFL International
  39. ↑ Mum's journey inspires Sudanese refugee Biggie Nyuon towards AFL dream Sean Sowerby 7NEWS 20th November 2019
  40. ↑ Suns to unleash the Mac attack: Prized No.5 pick to debut By Callum Twomey 28 July 2022
  41. 1 2 Leonard, Owen (30 April 2021). "Family and football in Frederick Brothers' DNA". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 5 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ↑ Rookie pick: Tom Jok By Julian Trantino for Essendon FC 23 November 2018
  43. ↑ "Hawks debutant 'rattled' after getting call-up". The West Australian. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  44. ↑ Fee, Tom. "Meet Freo's most unlikely footballer". Freemantle Dockers website. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  45. ↑ Quayle, Emma (1 July 2014). "From Sudan to the AFL: three teenagers hoping to make the big time". The Age. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  46. ↑ Wiles, Andrew (11 November 2015). "13 days until draft: Reuben William". AFLQ.com.au. Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  47. ↑ Sudanese rookie marks new era for Essendon 22 December 2015
  48. ↑ "Aliir's incredible journey from Kakuma to AFL". ESPN.com. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  49. ↑ "Footy Shorts - Footy in Uganda ? - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  50. ↑ "Aussie Rules in Western Sahara - World Footy News". WorldFootyNews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  51. 1 2 "zimfooty.com - Registered at Namecheap.com". ZimFooty.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  52. ↑ "Zimbabwe Footy Rising Above Challenges - World Footy News".
  53. ↑ Who is… Tendai Mzungu?
  54. ↑ Daw-inspiring feats bring Sudan into the heart of Aussie sport The Australian 20 Apr 2013
  55. ↑ Gleeson, Michael (12 February 2008). "African journey helps O'Brien". The Age . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  56. 1 2 "Australian Football International Cup 2008 – Official tournament program" (PDF). AFL.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
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