by One of the key pieces of advice the A-Leagues received in early 2020, as they parted ways with Football Australia, was that the “best asset” they could have was the local lad or lass made whole . The counsel came from former Premier League boss Richard Scudamore, who drafted the clubs to advise their new overseer of the competition, and it is hard to imagine a more fitting example of this than Nestory Irankunda. So it’s no surprise that Football Australia has invested so much in the 18-year-old’s journey and the current saga surrounding his status with Australia’s U23 side, the Olyroos.
The teenage perception is a sign of what the competition is trying to become in a new, relaxed “football-focused” era; an extremely talented young man, who got a chance to play for his home town club and quickly excelled. Coming to Australia as a refugee, he has gone from the Adelaide Croatia Raiders to Adelaide United, and soon, Bayern Munich. All held before his 18th birthday in February. It’s a step-by-step journey that fans of the game have been able to trace almost entirely and, as a result, become emotionally invested in.
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Irankunda is full of potential, described by Olyroos coach Tony Vidmar as “the future of the national team”. Not only does he have a surface-to-air missile for his right foot, he is purposeful in possession and, more importantly, able to produce tangible results for his side; his combined 12 goals and assists are the 14th highest in the Men’s A-League this season. Although it still needs polishing, it is clear at this point that there are first class diamonds beneath the surface.
But being so good at such a young age comes with high expectations – which does not always lend itself to a sober analysis of what the realistic prospects are now or in the future. It’s hard enough being 18 as it is, not to mention having an entire online ecosystem – which your generation is native to and the expectations of the past didn’t have to deal with – labeling you the savior of Australian football. Fail to meet these assumptions, or you will not meet them quickly enough, and one knows from history how they could be used to mitigate Irankunda; being hurled like a hand grenade by a cohort who revel in the misfortune of others and those who had the ability to be excited by it.
His defense, or at least mitigation, appears to be why he was left out of the Olyroos squad for the U23 Asian Championships in Qatar this month, a double Olympic qualifier. From a purely football point of view, few would argue that Irankunda could not contribute to the efforts to get a ticket to Paris, but given the wider circumstances around him, Vidmar was cautious. “I asked him about the prospect, and he found it challenging,” he said. “To throw that at a young child, it can do more damage.”
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However, Marco Tilio’s withdrawal from the squad on Monday was something of a major departure from the national set-up, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, with Irankunda seen as a potential replacement. He turned down the approach, deciding he was better off seeing out the rest of Adelaide’s season and preparing for his move to Germany.
A sounding process is not the same as an official approach and as a player on the initial extended list submitted to the AFC for the tournament, Irankunda was one of the few players who could be announced. But because of decision makers who left Irankunda out of the squad announced last week for long-term fitness and expectation management until then, even as a base kicking exercise, a potential call-up after Tilio’s injuries are not a concern. appearance Not only does it overshadow the explanation presented last week, but it will inevitably affect the analysis of their future decisions.
Most importantly, however, Irankunda appears to have retained her agency in the process; the SMH reported that he remains committed to representing Australia despite being turned down by the Olyroos this time. Given everything else about the game, it’s easy to get rich, but agencies don’t often prioritize their futures when it comes to young footballers – not often any young people. It is always important to remember that there is a person involved here, not just a footballer.
In an ideal world, would Irankunda be in Doha? Definitely. Is this all optimally managed? Probably not. Should football better support young athletes so that situations like this can be avoided? Without a doubt.
But apparently recognizing that Adelaide’s support system is the best place for him as he prepares to enter the meat grinder that is European football, Irankunda has shown a level of maturity and introspection. And since he admittedly needs to improve the mental side of his game, that might be a silver lining.
