Olyroos coach Tony Vidmar is refusing to put a line through Nestory Irankunda’s hopes of playing at the Paris Olympics after claiming he is putting the Adelaide wonderkid first by leaving him out of the U23 Asian Cup squad.
The 18-year-old Irankunda, who will leave Adelaide for German giants Bayern Munich at the end of this A-League Men season, was not included in Vidmar’s squad announced on Thursday.
Australia can guarantee their place at the Paris Games by finishing in the top three at the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar, which runs between April 8 and May 3.
But despite his game-changing ability, the dynamic Irankunda has been overlooked.
Vidmar said he didn’t want to burden the teenager, who is arguably the most exciting Australian talent in decades, with further pressure.
“With Nestory, we have to be mindful, I’ve met with him on a couple of occasions,” Vidmar said.
“What has happened to him this season, I think he’s on a rollercoaster 24/7 – that’s the way he is and we have to look at the bigger picture.
“We don’t have the luxury of having a thousand of those players where you can throw them against the wall and they break and you don’t use them.
“He has been through so much this year, I’d hate to be in his shoes. He has been prodded and poked and everyone wants a piece of him.
Adelaide United’s Nestory Irankunda. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
“He’s just turned 18, it’s a big ask for him … the person is number one.
“I could be selfish and just bring in him for the sake of it but we feel that the bigger picture is the Socceroos, you want to be talking about him for the next 15 years as a national team player.”
Vidmar said Irankunda remained in the frame for the Olympics should they qualify.
“He’s always been in consideration (for Paris) and on our list of players.
“He is one where after the Olympic qualifiers it’ll be about having that discussion again and he likes that contact.
“He’s been open with me about a lot of things, but I don’t want to divulge them because that’s a trust and a relationship I’m building with him.”
Irankunda’s absence follows another testing period for Australia’s squad depth.
While Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio, who scored at the Tokyo Games in Australia’s win against Argentina, returns to the fold, there are several key players who have been deemed unavailable for the tournament.
Parma defender Alessandro Circati, Hearts midfielder Calem Niuewenhof and newly-capped Socceroo Patrick Yazbek of Norwegian club Viking have not gained releases from their clubs given the tournament falls outside international windows.
“All of those players were so keen and desperate to be involved,” Vidmar said.
“We’re very disappointed the clubs haven’t released them.”
Australia face Jordan, Indonesia and hosts Qatar in the group stage with heavyweights Japan and South Korea their most likely opponents in the quarter-finals.
OLYROOS SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Patrick Beach, Cameron Cook, Steven Hall
Defenders: Jordan Courtney-Perkins, Jacob Farrell, Jake Girdwood-Reich, Jacob Italiano, Mark Natta, Alexandar Popovic, Callum Talbot
Midfielders: Louis D’Arrigo, Jake Hollman, Adrian Segecic, Ryan Teague, Jordi Valadon, Rhys Youlley
Forwards: Lachlan Brook, Alou Kuol, Garang Kuol, Nicolas Milanovic, Mohamed Toure, Nishan Velupillay.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Vidmar's selection are stupid thats the real reason. What about Natta is he the third worst young defender thats eligible at Newcastle Jets. Crancar and Grimaldi I think I would rate them better , would I pick any of them probably not..
Buddy
Roar Rookie
But give them points for trying? - as it never appeared to be the case for decades or perhaps they just paid lip service to the idea.
VicPool
Roar Rookie
Agree about pastoral care, although it does remind me about the time I met the former Chaplain at Bolton Wanderers and he told me about working one on one with El Hadji Diouf... needless to say not much progress was made!
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Golden rule: nobody born in a Commonwealth Games year is eligible for the Olympics
NoMates
Roar Rookie
The 7 arent trouble makers, the one left out is.
Marcel
Roar Rookie
Cool !....give him a warm hand and a manhug from us all when you're there.
chris1
Roar Rookie
What a lame excuse. So we have Spain able to cap a 16yo (Lamal) and a 17yo (Gavi) into that red hot FULL national team. But we need to “look after” Irankunda for the u23’s. What rot.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
arzani is a different situation to nestor though, his body broke down and he was continually injured - it also didnt help being signed by a club that just wanted to stockpile talent. nestor has not yet (touch wood) had a major significant injury that really effected his trajectory (compare him to any player with african heritage to have come out of adelaide - all the way from bruce djite up until musa toure) hes incredibly durable, but then again no australian teenager player has had this weight of expectation placed on them. this first upcoming season in germany is going to be incredibly tough with no family around for support. ill be in germany for a week for the euros (hoping to extend it to a second week if i can get some tickets to certain knockout fixtures) - so ill be able to see how hes going first hand. right now australian football fans just need to be patient and trust the process, people forget hes only literally just turned 18 and has been in the national spotlight since he was 15 (i beg to differe and say 14, but that just my view lol)
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Waz, these days it is probably more about psychology than anything else but for years I have been critical of clubs for not providing pastoral care to players, particularly young ones coming through the ranks. I’m not talking religion although that could be part of it although less likely these days but the general mental well being and adjusting to life as a professional footballer. I think right back to the days when Manchester United signed George /Best and took the scrawny teenager from the streets of Belfast to the dizzy heights of a European Cup win in a relatively short space of time. However, his social and moral welfare were never considered and we all know the rest of the story and it has been repeated so many times. I know people argue that employers are not responsible for that area of development and whilst that may be true, there are few employers that compare to a professional sports organisation such as MUFC. Things could have been so different for Gb and countless other prodigious talents that have followed.
Garry
Roar Rookie
"Portsmouth coach John Mousinho has confirmed Australian star Alex Robertson is likely out for the rest of the season through injury. "
Tony Harper
Editor
Why does being born in 2006 preclude him from this? Why not use the competition to help him develop emotionally, if that's the reason for not including him?
Marcel
Roar Rookie
Thanks for all of the Intel SS.....it's great to get that sort of insight. Football wise he seems to be the real deal....but then I thought the same about Arzani. I hope he gets the right guidance....I'd imagine Bayern are well versed in the process and pitfalls ahead.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
There is no way Irakunda should be selected in any circumstances as he is born in 2006. He should be kept for the next Olympic campaign where in the unlikely event he makes it big in Europe he wont be available for qualifying anyway. What about Alex Robertson why isnt he in the discussions.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Are you suggesting it'll be a pretty easy run for Aus? I wouldn't be so sure
NickA
Roar Rookie
Haha, in the absence of supporting an actual club, the Mariners and Adelaide have been my favourite teams since I began watching 10-12 years ago - they have young talent and not scared to play them (or they have to because they are poor lol). They play youth and the NTs eventually benefit. Don't get nearly enough credit, recognition or reward for doing what they do. Can't believe Socceroos haven't played there for nearly a decade.
338
Roar Rookie
What about one to help the fans? :laughing:
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
very loaded question Waz, because it has its merits (more so in australia where we have alot of migration from war torn countries) – but in general a dedicated team of sports psychologists in football still has a stigma attached to it. based on my work with both adelaide united & western united (as well as my knowledge of the roar) as well as on my travels to eastern europe each year for 2-3 months i am confident in saying that: *players believe they dont/wont have full 100% trust and confidentially in terms of private conversations – eg the psychologist will spill the beans as such to the coach. *players dont believe this psychologist is on ‘their team’ – eg players these days have an entourage of professionals around them and they dont want to change *players are more confident in confiding to other backroom staff members (who they have had a working relationship for several years) rather then a dedicated club psychologist just my personal opinion, but every a league club should have its own dedicated psychologist department. imagine had this been readily available to the kids who immigrated here from the balkans in the mid-late 90s and the african kids who immigrated here in the early 00’s – both demographics coming from wars which either indirectly or directly affected thier lives. very different to kids who were born in australia – also add in the racial element that unfortunately alot of the african boys experience. you can see why im all for dedicated sports psychologists
Tony Harper
Editor
Story updated with quotes now. Fairly clear it is a Vidmar call
Waz
Roar Rookie
“ adelaide have not invested enough money into a dedicated sports psychology team to help young players transition into fully developed adults” Had any club? Serious question!
Waz
Roar Rookie
Oh yes