Sudanese Players

[LostDoggy]

Re: Sudanese Players

Looks like Mad Jack is getting a bit of interest from Essendon and Norf

Still we are still in there fingers crossed, he just really apeals to me as a player and as a potential pull for the Sudanese community, who, I might add seem to be coming to our games.

On a side note - did anyone see Sam Newman down at Footscray doing Street Talk, when a Sudanese man walks path and calls out 'hey cuusin' to Sam - very funny moment.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/majak-daw-one-giant-leap/2009/10/30/1256835153144.html

[vho]

Re: Sudanese Players

Speaking of which, it's a pity there are no Asian/Vietnamese players as of yet to be drafted to the AFL. As an Australian with Vietnamese heritage myself, i know the community would be extremely proud and follow their man if a Vietnamese player was able to make it in the AFL. I can only hope one day this comes true and lets hope he lands at the Bulldogs. It would be a marketing dream if a player with that background and talent be drafted to the dogs as there is a huge Vietnamese community based in Footscray.

Remembering back, about 4-5 years ago i recall a player plying his trade in the VFL for Werribee or Williamtstown going by the surname 'Nguyen', anyone know what happened to him?

[ledge]

Re: Sudanese Players

Nguyen is like Smith but twice as many!
Yeah i vaguely remember one being reported on but no idea where it lead.
The Vietnamese are probably built more for soccer than footy though that might be a reason.

[hujsh]

Re: Sudanese Players

Not many Vietnamese play AFL. I have met one who was pretty good when playing school football so their build may not be that much of a problem.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Sudanese Players

I remember a really solidly built and quite raw but athletically gifted Vietnamese kid played against Braybrook when I was playing many years ago. Can't remember who he played for but he certainly blew the racial stereotype away. My immediate thought of course was how great it would be if he got drafted by the dogs. Maybe one day...................someone...................

[AndrewP6]

Re: Sudanese Players

Remembering back, about 4-5 years ago i recall a player plying his trade in the VFL for Werribee or Williamtstown going by the surname 'Nguyen', anyone know what happened to him?

Did a bit of trawling, is this the guy? Works for the AFL now...

Michael Nguyen

My name is Michael Nguyen and I am of a Vietnamese background. My parents migrated to Australia from Vietnam 30 years ago. I was born in Melbourne and have played Australian Football since the age of nine. Australian Football has given me the opportunity to travel to every state in Australia. More importantly, being involved in an Australian Football team has also allowed me to develop lifelong friendships. I am delivering the Multicultural School Football Program within the south-eastern region of Melbourne, working closely with the Hawthorn Football Club.

Michael Nguyen
Multicultural Development Officer
michael.nguyen@afl.com.au

Article from http://www.afl.com.au/Contacts/tabid/10293/default.aspx

Also found he played for Sandringham (TAC Cup and VFL.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Sudanese Players

What about Danny Seow that played for Collingwood? Maybe not Vietnamese though - and I hate stereotyping, sorry! But I do think what a untapped resourse west Melbournes African community. I wish as much effort was put into identifying and nurturing talent there than there is looking at Fiji and New Zealand

[LostDoggy]

Re: Sudanese Players

Whats the rush with getting the first. Lets get the best players and not worry about the race of the individual. Let Essendon or whoever do all the hard yards with the possible duds and we can move in and take the cream later when there are actually good players coming through that deserve to be picked up in the Draft and are not questionable Rookies at best.

If he is still there to be picked up as a Rookie then OK else good luck to other clubs.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Sudanese Players

What about Danny Seow that played for Collingwood? Maybe not Vietnamese though - and I hate stereotyping, sorry! But I do think what a untapped resourse west Melbournes African community. I wish as much effort was put into identifying and nurturing talent there than there is looking at Fiji and New Zealand

Yes i agree that it would make more sense investing in local areas than travelling to fiji or some place that has never heard of our game.

You would think it would be much easier to work with some african kids here than anyone overseas.

I think multi-culturalism is absolutely critical to the success and survival of the AFL.
If you can get 'new australians' playing our game it has so many benefits, not just seeing a kid become a success. It's all about families, communities and culture.

If we don't convert them, they will stick with what they know or what they identify with, and that would be soccer and basketball.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Sudanese Players

Yes i agree that it would make more sense investing in local areas than travelling to fiji or some place that has never heard of our game.

You would think it would be much easier to work with some african kids here than anyone overseas.

I think multi-culturalism is absolutely critical to the success and survival of the AFL.
If you can get 'new australians' playing our game it has so many benefits, not just seeing a kid become a success. It's all about families, communities and culture.

If we don't convert them, they will stick with what they know or what they identify with, and that would be soccer and basketball.

Not sure how Sudanese/any Horn of Africa country basketball is. I know it's huge amongst African Americans but as I have mentioned earlier in this thread, the school I work has a 70% African student base and basketball isn't popular at all. We have basketball courts and they get me (being the only male) to put them up everyday but no one actually plays basketball (bar maybe a prep who struggles to shoot the ball anywhere near the rim!).

Footy is very popular at the school but soccer is even bigger (both in following and playing the game). More kids play soccer but that's the normal for any background at the age. AFL is well ahead of the other sports in his promotion of the game. We have had a series of Aus Kick clinics, a couple of series of clinics from Essendon and one Bulldogs clinic in the last couple of years. North don't do clinics at our school because apparently Flemington falls out of their zone! I have filled our sports equipment bin with footballs and they all taken every recess/playtime. In terms of following the game, the EPL and AFL are clearly the most followed leagues.

The issue with developing players from within Australia is that any club can pick them up. We can put as much work into an area like Flemington and it's Somali kids for example but once they nominate for the draft, we have no more right to them than any other club.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Sudanese Players

Not sure how Sudanese/any Horn of Africa country basketball is. I know it's huge amongst African Americans but as I have mentioned earlier in this thread, the school I work has a 70% African student base and basketball isn't popular at all. We have basketball courts and they get me (being the only male) to put them up everyday but no one actually plays basketball (bar maybe a prep who struggles to shoot the ball anywhere near the rim!).

Footy is very popular at the school but soccer is even bigger (both in following and playing the game). More kids play soccer but that's the normal for any background at the age. AFL is well ahead of the other sports in his promotion of the game. We have had a series of Aus Kick clinics, a couple of series of clinics from Essendon and one Bulldogs clinic in the last couple of years. North don't do clinics at our school because apparently Flemington falls out of their zone! I have filled our sports equipment bin with footballs and they all taken every recess/playtime. In terms of following the game, the EPL and AFL are clearly the most followed leagues.

The issue with developing players from within Australia is that any club can pick them up. We can put as much work into an area like Flemington and it's Somali kids for example but once they nominate for the draft, we have no more right to them than any other club.

Auskick is one thing but I think there is a giant step between that and getting these kids to play regularly in a club side. How many of the kids at your school would play for the local footy side on the weekend?

Out in the Dandenong area i see a lot of the Somali's on the public basketball courts and wearing basketball clothes around the streets. To be honest i see more Indians and Sri Lankans kicking footies around than any africans out east.

I remember Coon Dog saying that there were several Africans playing out Werribee way, which is great to see. We just have to get them into club footy at any level.

[hujsh]

Re: Sudanese Players

There's this kid who's only knows as 'Bugsy' who's African and plays footy.

There might be a few in Kensington as well but I have trouble remembering team names so that may be wrong.

One team had a few Africans so we were given this racial relations seminar thing in U-14's.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Sudanese Players

Auskick is one thing but I think there is a giant step between that and getting these kids to play regularly in a club side. How many of the kids at your school would play for the local footy side on the weekend?

Out in the Dandenong area i see a lot of the Somali's on the public basketball courts and wearing basketball clothes around the streets. To be honest i see more Indians and Sri Lankans kicking footies around than any africans out east.

I remember Coon Dog saying that there were several Africans playing out Werribee way, which is great to see. We just have to get them into club footy at any level.

How many primary school kids play for a local footy side? It's an area that soccer dominates but Aussie Rules makes massive ground on when they turn 14 or 15 but I do get your point mate.

As into Aussie Rules as our kids are, none of them play for a footy side. The local U/13's Soccer side is dominated by kids in our 4/5/6 grades. I definitely agree (well strongly agree) with you about more work being put into the African community to get them to play for a footy side.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Sudanese Players

I seen Majak Daw having a run with the Western Jets today. It was the first time my son had seen him in the flesh and said he was "massive"...I hope someone picks this kid up. His potential is enormous, given that he has only played for 4 years. No more a risk than an Irishman or a rugby/basketball convert, and there are plenty of them running around at an AFL club.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Sudanese Players

Sidenote... my sports club is running a Wheelchair Basketball Come and Try Day (I found out on Facebook) and Majak Daw has been invited. I think he's listed as "Maybe Attending"...