Soreti Jibrael
August 22, 2013, Australia (The Age) — When 13-year-old schoolgirl Soreti Jibrael ran onto the ground at Etihad Stadium last Friday night for Auskick, it was her first AFL game – and it was also a first for the AFL. She was the first umpire to wear a hijab on an elite AFL ground.
Soreti adapted the umpire’s uniform of shorts and T-shirt to fit her Muslim beliefs, borrowing a fluorescent green hijab from her sister to match the green shirts and socks worn by umpires.
Like any teenager, she was happy her accessory had ”sparkle on the ends”.
To cover her legs she wore brown leggings under her shorts and green socks.
Born in New Zealand to Ethiopian migrants, the Cats fan joined her friend, Kangaroos supporter Tamara Auld, as an Auskick field umpire. They had chosen that game to see their teams play each other. It was the first time Soreti had watched a big league game live.
Soreti attends Point Cook P-9 College, where 25 students are part of the AFL Victoria Basic Umpiring Course, designed to promote leadership, decision-making and the role of umpires to a new generation.
”My dad said you should always improve your chances of winning the game [of life],” Soreti says. ”When you learn to be an umpire, it is a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone.”
Umpiring is Soreti’s ”back-up plan” for a career. ”I want to be a doctor. But if I don’t become a doctor, I would like to be an umpire,” she says.
Her debut at Etihad has been welcomed by another female Muslim umpire, Nadine Rabah, an AFL multicultural ambassador.
”It is just gorgeous that it has happened,” Ms Rabah says.
A best-and-fairest player in her junior league days, Ms Rabah does not wear a hijab when she umpires reserves games in the Essendon District Football League.
She has never been abused as an umpire but says that wearing a hijab could make abuse more likely. However, she is encouraging Soreti to continue umpiring as she believes Australia is becoming more accepting of other cultures.
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