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SYDNEY/ AFP
Sudanese refugee Aliir Aliir will complete an extraordinary journey when he makes his debut for the Sydney Swans against Brisbane on Sunday in Australian Rules football.
The 21-year-old Aliir was born in a Kenyan refugee camp to parents who fled war-torn Sudan and arrived in Australia as a small child. He played soccer and basketball before taking up Australian Rules football as a high school student in Brisbane.
The defender was selected by Sydney with the 44th pick in the 2013 Australian Football League draft and has spent the last three years in development leagues. On Wednesday, coach John Longmire told Aliir that his long wait was almost over.
Longmire says “it’s probably the best grin I’ve ever seen. He was very happy.”