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Nestory Irankunda

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Nestory Irankunda
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-02-09) 9 February 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Kigoma, Tanzania
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Adelaide United
Number 66
Youth career
2018–2020 Adelaide Croatia Raiders
2021 Adelaide United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Adelaide United NPL 27 (4)
2022– Adelaide United 35 (8)
International career‡
2022–2023 Australia U17 7 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 June 2023

Nestory Irankunda (born 9 February 2006), also known as Nestor Irankunda, is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Adelaide United in the A-League. Born in Tanzania, he has represented Australia at youth level.

Born in Tanzania as a refugee, Irankunda played youth football in Adelaide playing for Adelaide Croatia Raiders at NPL level before moving to Adelaide United. He started his professional career when he signed a scholarship contract in September 2021, following his league debut in January 2022, becoming the sixth youngest debutant in A-League history. Additionally, he scored his first league goal the same year, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in the competition.

An Australian international, Irankunda was called up to the Australia national team but only made appearances on the bench. At youth level, he led the Australia U17 squad to qualification for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

Early life

Nestory Irankunda was born on 9 February 2006 in Kigoma, Tanzania, the fourth child out of seven of Gideon, a rideshare driver, and his wife, Dafroza.[1][2][3][self-published source] His parents were originally from Burundi, but were forced to flee from their homes due to Nestory's older sister falling ill and the Burundi Civil War escalating at the time. Desperate to find safety away from danger, Nestory's father led his family to a refugee camp in Tanzania where Nestory would soon be born.[1][2] They soon moved to Perth in Australia when Nestory was three months old before moving to the northern suburbs of Adelaide.[4] Growing up in Adelaide, Nestory found his love of football whilst playing with his older brothers in the yard of his home. At the age of 8, Nestory would play for his first club in football.[1][4]

During his junior years in Australian football, he played with Northern Wolves and Parafield Gardens before being scouted and signed by NPL outlet Adelaide Croatia Raiders.[1][5] During his time in the youth levels for the Raiders, he scored 28 goals in 8 matches for U-12 in his first year.[6] The year after, Nestory scored 34 goals in a season with the U13 team and 6 goals in 6 appearances in the U14 catching the attention of many scouts in the area.[5][7] Impressed by his performances, Airton Andrioli, the head of youth, invited Nestory to trial for Adelaide United for a couple of weeks before offering a permanent spot in the youth teams.[8] Upon being asked about "Nestor", Andrioli stated,

"When you see a boy like Nestory, some players have that naturally. That gift of understanding and reading the game. Being street smart. You don’t see that a lot in Australian players. That’s why Nestory from the start had that kind of thing."[9]

Club career

Adelaide United

2020–22: Development

In his first year for Adelaide United, Irankunda initially played with the reserve side, a choice made by Andrioli who led the youth teams for Adelaide.[8] After a couple of weeks, he started featuring for Adelaide United NPL side. Despite being 15 at the time, he accumulated 26 appearances and 12 goals in total for both the senior and reserve squad for the Reds.[8][10] On 27 September 2021, Irankunda signed a scholarship contract (his first professional contract) with Adelaide United.[11]

On 8 January 2022, at the age of 15 years and 333 days, Irankunda became the sixth youngest player in A-League history and the third youngest player ever for Adelaide United,[12] when he made his debut in the Original Rivalry, drawing 1–1 against Melbourne Victory.[13][14] On 30 January, Irakunda scored his first league goal, a free kick, in stoppage time to win the game 2–1 against Newcastle Jets.[15][16] His goal made him the second youngest goalscorer in the league at the age of 15 years and 355 days after Mohamed Toure who scored at the age of 15 years and 325 days.[17][18][19] He scored his second league goal, coming off the bench to score the winner in a 2–1 home win over Central Coast Mariners on 27 February.[20] By 24 April, he increased his goalscoring tally to 3 after he scored a stoppage time goal and helped his side secure a 2–0 win against Perth Glory.[21] His brief cameo won him the Tomas Dale Medal for his sporting manner in the club.[22] On 26 May, Irankunda was selected in the A-Leagues All Stars squad, alongside teammates Isaías Sánchez and Alexandar Popovic, to face Spanish giants Barcelona.[23]

2022–23: Breakthrough season

In November 2022, Irankunda would miss the first Original Rivalry match of the 2022–23 season after facing a month suspension from the club for turning up late to several team meetings, as well as not doing the "chores" associated to being one of the club’s younger players.[24][25] Upon his return, Irankunda scored his first goal of the 2022–23 season on 4 February 2023, in a home match against Brisbane Roar. Adelaide United won 2–1 at full time after Irankunda scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute.[26][27][28] His goal received media attention and praise from manager Carl Veart simply stating, "This is the talent that Nestor has."[29][30] Irankunda dedicated the goal to Spanish teammate and friend Juande.[31] Irankunda furthered his reputation as a key player off the bench, after scoring in three consecutive appearances for Adelaide United, levelling the match against Melbourne Victory (1–1),[32] and securing wins against Melbourne City (4–2),[33] and Newcastle Jets (4–2).[34][35] He was awarded the Isuzu UTE Goal of the Month in February for his goal against Melbourne Victory.[36]

During a match against Western Sydney Wanderers, Irankunda lashed out and pushed Wanderers' midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof who fouled him to stop the United attack, this sparked an "all-in fracas" from both teams, and led to a confrontation with Marcelo who held Irankunda in a headlock.[37] Lachlan Barr separated the two and Marcelo was soon sent off for his rash actions.[38] The match ended in a 3–2 win for Adelaide United leading them to take second place on the table.[39] After the match, Irankunda received criticism from Veart, in a post-match conference, who stated that he needs to learn to be a bit more "cool-headed" but reassured that he is still "young and learning".[40]

On 23 April, Irankunda scored a goal in the 99th-minute in a 4–4 draw, at HBF Park, against Perth Glory.[41] The goal brought Irankunda to a total of 8 goals in his A-League career (5 in the 2022–23 season) – surpassing Mohamed Toure's record as the competition’s highest under-18 goalscorer.[42] During the match, after Perth Glory equalised 3–3, Irankunda caught media attention after an off-camera booking by the referee for slamming the ball to the turf and kicking the broadcaster’s pitchside microphone unbeknown to Carl Veart when asked of the incident.[43] On 2 May, at the conclusion of the regular season, Irankunda was awarded the club's Rising Star accolade, sharing jointly with Ethan Alagich.[44]

On 5 May, Irankunda was heavily linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich with beIN SPORTS reporting that Irankunda was in advanced talks and was closing in on an agreement.[45] Though in an interview three days before, he stated that he is not in a rush to move because "it's all about Europe", adding, that he does not want to make the same mistakes as past Australian youngsters.[46] In the same day, Irankunda was brought off the bench in the Elimination final against Wellington Phoenix, where his side won 2–0. During a post-match interview, Irankunda was asked about his transfer speculation by Bruce Djite, to which he jokingly responded, "Nah, nah I’m going to England. Bruce is my agent".[47]

On 20 May, Irankunda featured off the bench in United's final game when they lost 2–0 against Central Coast Mariners, in front of a Mariners' record of 20,059 at Central Coast Stadium.[48]

International career

Irankunda is eligible to represent Tanzania, Burundi, or Australia at international level.[49]

Youth

2022–2023: U17 Asian Cup

On 12 September 2022, Irankunda received his first international call-up from Australia to represent the Australia U17 in the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification.[50] He made his debut against Northern Mariana Islands, netting a hat-trick by the 38th-minute before scoring two more goals to complete a 23–0 win.[51][52] He scored three more goals in the remaining group games, with one against Cambodia (10–0)[53] and two against China (3–1).[54][55] Irankunda performances resulted in Australia topping the group and qualifying for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.[56]

On 16 May 2023, Irankunda was added to the Australia squad set to play in the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup hosted in Thailand.[57][58] On 19 June 2023, in the second group stage round, Irankunda scored twice, including a brace within 18 minutes, but a missed penalty in the 9th-minute meant he missed out on his hat-trick. The match finished as the Joeys won 5–3 over China.[59] His second goal, a "world-class" powerful long-range strike, garnered widespread attention on social media due to its audacity and quality.[60][61] Irankunda scored in Australia's last game as his side were knocked out by Japan following a 3–1 defeat in the knockout stage.[62][63]

Senior

On 14 March 2023, Irankunda received his first international call-up to the Australia squad, being named as a "train on" player for the friendlies against Ecuador.[64] During his time in the squad, he befriended Awer Mabil, who called himself as the "big brother" and helped him settle in with the seniors. He also befriended youngster Garang Kuol who had experienced a similar journey through the A-League.[1][65]

As a result of Riley McGree falling ill during his travel from Middlesbrough to Sydney, Irankunda was included in the match squad in both matches against Ecuador.[66] Although he could have potentially become the youngest player ever to appear for the "Socceroos," surpassing Duncan Cummings' record, he did not feature in the matches.[67][68]

Player profile

Style of play

He can do things on a pitch that I haven’t seen other players do. So explosive. In training games, he’ll have three four-minute spells when no-one wants to go near him.

—Carl Veart[4]

Irankunda, deployed on the right wing by Adelaide United manager Carl Veart, has shown significant improvement in his game.[3] Blessed with pace and exceptional dribbling skills, Irankunda utilises these attributes to stretch the field wide and disrupt the opposition's tactics.[1][3] When near the goal, he adeptly takes the ball inside, using his dribbling skills to maneuver past opponents, with his crossing adding to his play.[3][69] Additionally, Irankunda often opts to shoot rather than pass when inside the goal area, resulting in both goals scored and missed opportunities.

Physically, he surpasses the average A-League teenager in maturity and power, displaying explosive speed, balance, and strength.[3][4][70] Since breaking through at 15, Irankunda has showcased his creativity, flair, and fearlessness in taking on defenders with his speed and technical ability. His incisive touches and agility remain assets, particularly in the later stages of matches against fatigued opponents.[3][71]

Reception

Irankunda is regarded from many Australian media as one of the greatest talents developed in Australia.[1][2][3][9] His goal-scoring prowess received many plaudits from media and pundits who recognised his skills and techniques, and even compared his free kick goal against Newcastle Jets to that of Cristiano Ronaldo.[72] His ability to draw fouls from opponents, albeit too frequently, led to Carl Veart demanding that referees protect the young prospect more and punish opposing players for tackles that could harm him.[73] Veart's protection of Irankunda led to restriction of minutes on the pitch, having made all of his appearances off the bench, to ensure that the player develops properly. However, after seeing his effectiveness on the front-foot, the media suggest that he is ready for a starting position despite his fitness levels and young age.[74][75]

With his consistent and impressive performances during the domestic season, he would receive praise from his teammate Javi López and compared his development towards Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, stating, "At his age, I only saw Messi and him at this level. The power, the skills. Never in my life at 17 years of age have I seen a player like him and Messi".[76] This was agreed by many coaches including international managers who had witnessed Irankunda play who said that his talents and approaches from big clubs were good exposure for Asian football.[77]

Personal life

Irankunda attended Parafield Gardens High School in Parafield Gardens, South Australia, a northern suburb of Adelaide.[78] He came runners-up in his category in the School Sports Awards in December 2022.[79]

Growing up, Irankunda favoured Spanish club Barcelona and idolised Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique who influenced him to play centre-back as a kid before converting to a more attacking role by his coaches.[80] His father drove him around to his football games before Irankunda was old enough to obtain his driving license and his older brothers stopped playing football to help pay for his football fees when he played in NPL.[80][81] For this reason, he considers his father and brothers as his heroes as well as his mother and older sisters who took care of him since before moving to Australia.[80]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup [a] League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Adelaide United 2021–22 A-League Men 13 3 0 0 — — 13 3
2022–23 A-League Men 22 5 0 0 — — 22 5
Total 35 8 0 0 0 0 — 35 8
  1. ^ Includes Australia Cup

Honours

Individual

References

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  3. ^ a b c d e f g Tripathi, Saumy Deepak (7 May 2023). "Nestory Irakunda: Adelaide United's Prodigy on Bayern's Radar". FootTheBall.
  4. ^ a b c d Peacock, Adam. "Adelaide United's Nestory Irankunda's remarkable power has caught the attention of the Socceroos and European clubs". Code Sports. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023.
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  • [1] Nestor Irankunda at Soccerway
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