The Gold Coast SUNS, Australia Post and the AFL are proud to announce Adam Saad and Tom Nicholls will join the AFL’s national multicultural ambassador program in Melbourne on Thursday morning.
The Gold Coast SUNS pair will be unveiled alongside 18 player ambassadors to represent the program in 2016, which will also include two female players for the first time.
From a Lebanese background, 21-year-old Saad will work on developing the Bachar Houli Islamic Schools Program in Queensland, mentor participants at the National Bachar Houli Academy and provide support to the Queensland Ramadan dinner.
READ: Saad looking forward to meeting Tiger hero
He will also support the AFL’s World Team at the NAB Under-16 National Championships as well as helping drive the Queensland multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including AFL Multicultural Round.
Of Fijian descent, Nicholls will also support the Queensland multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including AFL Multicultural Round.
Tom will also work with the AFL’s World Team at the NAB Under-16 National Championships.
Saad welcomed the opportunity to join on as an AFL multicultural ambassador.
“I’m very humbled and very passionate about the gig and am just looking forward to the weeks and the years to come,” he said.
“I’ll be working closely with the Islamic community within the Gold Coast and I’m doing a fair bit of stuff in the multicultural space as well up here on the Gold Coast so as I said before I’m just really looking forward to that in the next year and next couple of months.”
“It’s always really good to give back to the wider community and for me to get back to the Islamic community and hopefully get them more involved in footy.”
The second-year dynamo said he was looking forward to taking on responsibility in the multicultural space on the Gold Coast, and was eager to become more engaged with the Islamic community, following club appearances including a visit to the Australian International Islamic College.
READ: Saad seeking constant improvement
“I guess being a role model just comes with the job, me playing footy I don’t really take it as me being a role model, I just do my job and do my bit and if they look up to me, hopefully I’m setting the right example.”
“Bachar has been unreal in what he’s done in Melbourne in the Muslim community down there and just the way he balances everyday life and religion with footy is second to none and I’m really inspired and hopefully I can follow his footsteps and do that up here on the Gold Coast.”
