When I was a teenager, one of my favourite things in training was to practice free kicks.
We all dreamt of scoring one in a match situation, but as a teenager you rarely get the chance to. So, what would happen if a 15-year-old stepped up to take a free kick in a professional match?
Nestor Irankunda is currently experiencing a lot of attention across the globe for his tender age, quality of free-kick and amazing celebration.
When Adelaide earnt a free-kick in the 88th minute in a match they had been dominated by Newcastle, there seemed to be little threat with United missing the regular set-piece takers.
While neutral fans and the opposition seemed surprised to see the 15-year-old step forward, unopposed with the ball, anyone remotely close to the player knew what could happen.
Irankunda has always taken free kicks for his teams – after every United practice he will spend time honing his craft against the club’s young goalkeepers with expert takers in Craig Goodwin and Isaias.
To be able to get the ball up and over the wall from just outside the box is a skill itself – made even harder for the diminutive teenager, as the players in the wall while jumping were double his height.
After the ball rippled the net past a helpless Jack Duncan, Irankunda backflipped away in delight and was mobbed by his teammate s.
Irankunda has proved to be one of the most popular players in the team this season and is treated like everyone’s little brother. He is old enough to be a son to the senior players at a club.
Like many players with African heritage, he has had quite an interesting football journey.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Nestor was born in the lake port city of Kigoma in the country of Tanzania. The Irankunda family then left for a better life in Australia
His talent was spotted early and with the family living in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, there were several sides keen on having the talented tyro play for them, with Adelaide Raiders winning the battle.
Raiders were a club formed by the local Croatian community 70 years ago and have been one of South Australia’s most successful clubs.
They have produced countless players for the NSL and A-League over the years – Richie Alagich, Craig Goodwin, Osama Malik, Jordan O’Doherty and Daniel Margush, to name just a few.
Irankunda’s time in the under-12s had scouts salivating – 28 goals in a season of utter dominance, his terrifying pace and trickery was on full display at even that age.
Adelaide United was quick to pounce after a personal recommendation and Nestor was soon playing in the United youth team for the 2021 SA NPL season.
Playing against men and no longer boys, Irankunda scored three goals last season as an impact sub – his talent and dedication while training with the senior A-League side earnt him a squad position.
He has come off the bench two other times this season.
His first match was in a baptism of fire in Melbourne against arch rivals Victory, where he seemed to wilt under the occasion of the big lights.
The second match he took part in was against Melbourne City, where he had no issue running at two players constantly – but was well marshalled by Scott Jamieson.
Adelaide is playing it safe and trying to not overload the teenager with too much game time.
Irankunda is still only 15 and he will grow in height and muscle on his body, he does not have the stamina to last a full game – let alone half of one at the moment.
He is yet another in the already long list of players with African heritage to come from Adelaide – more than 75 per cent of current A-League players with African heritage were developed in Adelaide.
Irankunda is at the right club to nurture his explosive talent, a club that values and plays youth – had he been part of one of the bigger A-League side’s set-ups, it’s likely no one would ever have heard of him.
Nick Symonds
Guest
NEWS: Central Coast Maritner's former young striker has been loaned to a 2. Bundesliga side for the remainder of the season. VfB Stuttgart striker Alou Kuol will spend the remainder of the 2021-22 season with 2. Bundesliga side SV Sandhausen. The former A-League striker has been loaned to the club after an impressive start for Stuttgart's second team. (7 goals from 19 matches) - Kuol's younger brother Garang currently plays for the A-League's Central Coast Mariners. The 17-year old has made two FFA Cup appearances this season for the club, scoring a goal in the process. - https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/former-a-league-youngster-loaned-to-german-2-bundesliga-side-575395
josh
Guest
SydneyFC aren't a development club, your last coach said that himself.
josh
Guest
Russell is currently in that abyss of being a talented junior but the club not being able to bring them up to the next level. You could field 5 teams with the number or juniors this has happened to at WSW.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
AA, thanks for the nice story.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
speaking of aboriginal players, adelaide had lodged a cheeky enquiry for tate russell of the wanderers - it was rejected as the player wants to fight for his spot (now that robbo is gone he believes he has a better chance to play under rudes.) he's always going to be a what if for me, amazing metrics as a teenager but hasnt really kicked on with his career - he's capable of being the starting right back for every club in the league. a change of scenery would do him good, especially at a club like adelaide where he would be first choice right back and has long had ties to the indigenous community - travis dodd, freddy agius & luis lawrie-lattanzio (still playing for victory)
chris
Guest
This kid has something for sure. I've sometimes selected players at youth level based on 1 thing that I may have seen that makes them different from the others. Nestor has that quality from the little I've seen. Obviously, as you point out Andy so many things need to go right for him, especially soft tissue injuries. And yes, definitely need to tap into the African heritage players and our Aboriginal players as well. They have special qualities that you just can't teach.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i have a vested interest in dukuly, so i cant say too much - but he will likely be on the move shortly as for dom, he's failed trials in australia as well as italy. he did an interesting interview recently, there 3 sides to every story - we've heard the clubs version and now the ex players version - the truth is somewhere in the middle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZFnX1wMn3c
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Yeh really like in your dreams? Some of the older West African guys I have seen down at the park, they are really built, tall, fit, and fast even well in their 30-40s. Would have no problem playing AFL,NRL, or rugby at the top level. They dont have a clue about those sports or the slightest interest, its manual labour that made them strong and the younger generation are nowhere near as built, because they are brought up here doing no labour on the gravy train. The younger ones at the NPL clubs they can get cut at any moment, or they get told they have to come up with rego fees or they are gone, and even if they are there they cant get on the field . They cant work out why team mates who aren't that good get all the game time or played in the better positiions.
Franko
Guest
So many just seem to drop off. Whats happened to Dukuly and Dom Costanzo?
Franko
Guest
Giving it another look, there is that much curl on the ball it almost hits the inside-side rather than the back of the net. Its a beauty.
Franko
Guest
For whatever reason I feel like the guys in Melbourne are pushed towards Aussie Rules and AFL.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i dont think anyone in that wall, expected him to get the ball up and over it, let alone hit the back of the net. put it down to complacency maybe, but you always have to jump to make life harder for the free kick taker
Tigertown
Guest
Such a fantastic free kick. The Newcastle “wall” of defence was bamboozled. Watch the replays, the middle Jets player (out of five teammates), doesn’t even flinch. He literally does nothing but blink.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
elvis is doing better than i expected him to in sydney - hes perfect for a smaller city team where he doesnt have the 'bight lights' on him
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
its extremely hard to go from teenage prodigy to adult professional. your body is still changing and your frame will grow bigger with the additional height boys tend to get later in there teenage years. all that whilst training as the professional level is tough on a developing body, niggling soft tissue injuries start to creep in and thats the danger sign. slow and steady progress with teenage players has always been the best bet. i'm not saying he will become a world beater, i've seen many a better player (with african heritage) not only in adelaide but around australia with better developmental metrics in his position he's very level headed and eager to learn and listen - so already he is ahead of most teen player
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
its a damning statistic, especially for a city like melbourne - which has the highest per capita population of people with african heritage
Nick Symonds
Guest
"more than 75 per cent of current A-League players with African heritage were developed in Adelaide" - That needs to be spread around more. Can't just leave it all to Adelaide.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
How is Adelaide the right club, they seem to have a lot of youth talent, and completely incapable of getting them to remain injury free and develop any fitness. If you want success come to Sydney FC, Corica can develop talent like no other coach, if only he didnt fancy the oldies. Kamsoba is now one of the top A-league players, King sold off, Yabzek I tip him to break the transfer fee record for the A-league if Sydney are smart enough to tie him down. He is already by a big margin the best defensive midfielder in the club, I suppose that when Retre is the next best defensively, and you have weak links like Brattan and Amini its not that remarkable. The question you have to ask is why Adelaide has the most African players, when you have big African populations in Melbourne and Sydney. There are too many rich parents in Sydney, they would not have any free spots to give players scholarships.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks Andy - a great article to read. It's nice to read these stories that give us an insight into our players. I have always enjoyed watching Adelaide play and even more so these days with the 15, 16 and 17 year old who have featured. I know you have written this before, but to see some individual flair and skill being encouraged, which many of these youngsters have is a joy to watch. Not a young player, but Elvis is certainly a crowd favourite at Sydney this year. His creativity combined with his passion and 100% determination has won over all the fans.
Franko
Guest
Best free kick taker since Kristian Sarkies? It's a nice string to his bow, if he shows consistently netting these free kicks, defenders will think twice before fouling which may afford him more space to beat an opponent. He has a long way to go, none of his cohort have turned their young debuts in to solid careers yet, let's hope he breaks the mould.