Young gun extends Reds contract

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Exciting young Adelaide United forward Awer Mabil today signed a two year extension to his current contract keeping him in a Reds shirt until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season.

Exciting young Adelaide United forward Awer Mabil today signed a two year extension to his current contract keeping him in a Reds shirt until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season.

Currently in the first year of an original two-year deal Mabil had no hesitation in extending his contract for a further two years showing faith in the direction the club is heading.

“I feel very happy with the decision we-ve made because it feels like a family at this club,” Mabil said.

“To be offered a further two-year deal is really good for my development. Josep is a really good coach and I feel comfortable and I am learning a lot under him. I-m in a really good environment to learn and that-s why I really enjoy it here.”

Conversely Coach Josep Gombau has also shown faith in the ability of Mabil to continue his development with the Reds under his tutelage by using the youngster consistently this season with the 18 year old making a great impact off the substitutes bench on a regular basis.

“Awer is a very good player who is doing many things well and continues to improve,” Gombau said.

“We believe in him and this is a reward for all the effort he is doing so far. Of course he is a young player and still needs to improve but I am so happy to work with him because he is one of the players of the future for this club.”

Born in a Kenyan refugee camp to Sudanese parents, the family arrived in Adelaide when he was just 10 years old. The speedy winger is a product of the National Youth Team and made his A-league debut against Perth Glory on the 11th January 2013.

In 2012/13 he was voted the National Youth League player of the year as well as the Adelaide United rising star award. So far this season he has made eleven appearances finally getting a starting berth last week in the Clubs memorable win over league leaders Brisbane Roar.

The extension to Mabil-s contract comes after a number of young South Australians also penned A-League deals with the Reds recently in Mark Ochieng, Dylan Smith and Ben Warland from the AIS along with the Reds- NYL and Australian Under 22 goalkeeper John Hall, something that Reds Football Director Michael Petrillo said is part of the longer term Club strategy.

“We have made a commitment to give the best young South Australian boys an opportunity to make it at this level if they-re good enough and these recent signings as well as the A-League debuts this season of Ryan Kitto and Anthony Costa along with the extension to Awer-s contract shows the confidence that Josep has in the local young talent coming through the ranks,” Petrillo said.