FOOTBALL has provided Omar Abdallah with many things, including an opportunity to be a role model for his people and community.
Abdallah, one of 11 children, whose ages spread from 15 to 35, noted that since he began playing football it has turned around his father Mohammed’s view of the game as well as unified his extended family.
Born of Lebanese parents who migrated to Australia in their late teens to start a new chapter to their lives, football wasn’t something that had any roots in his family’s life.
"My father was never supportive of me playing football," Abdallah said.
"My dad wasn't into sport. He only got into it when I started playing for Calder Cannons. He could see I was getting somewhere so he got into it.
"For the first seven years Dad didn’t watch me play footy, but when I made it to the Calder Cannons he started coming to watch me.
"And now he doesn't miss a game and he watches footy on TV and if he can't watch it, he tapes it. He used to hate it.
"My mum, the whole family, has followed me since I started playing. I've played in Queensland and Sydney and they followed me there as well. They’re pretty committed.”
Like his Coburg teammate Saad, Abdallah, 19, began playing football with Coburg Cougars.
All five of Abdallah’s brothers as well as his cousin, his uncle as well as his mother and father have become regulars at Coburg games.
Asked why he dove head first into the game, Abdallah replied: "I was improving and improving and I wanted to see where I could get to.
"There are not many Lebanese kids that play footy and a lot of them make trouble.
"I want to try to be a role model for my younger brother and all the younger Lebanese kids and my community.
"A lot of kids in my community are trouble makers."
Abdallah, who has played six games with Coburg in this his first Peter Jackson VFL season said he developed his game under the coaching of Marty Allison at Calder Cannons.
"I was hoping just to get the one game. I just wanted to develop my football so next year when we go it alone I could make it as a regular senior player,” he said.
"This year has been a good experience. I've played against AFL senior players - Ed Curnow, Justin Sherman and I have played with Shane Tuck, Robin Nahas, Marcus White.”
It was an easy choice for him when he graduated from the Cannons.
"Coburg is in my blood. I live in Coburg, I grew up in Coburg, I went to school in Coburg, I played footy for West Coburg. It's always been Coburg.
"I love Coburg. It's been my best year of footy."
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 10/07/2013 16:48