His head is mostly bowed. In front of the TV cameras he sways with nerves, sometimes even giggles. The shy demeanour of Australian prodigy Nestory Irankunda off the field stands in juxtaposition to his powerful, decisive presence on it.
Three months away from his eagerly anticipated move to German giants Bayern Munich from Adelaide, the 18-year-old was, on Tuesday, one of the first players named for the A-League All Stars’ clash against Newcastle United in Melbourne on 24 May.
At Marvel Stadium at the match’s kit launch, Irankunda faced one of the largest media scrums in his short career, his softly spoken sentences drifting off before the awkward silence filling with another reporter’s question. How was he handling the pressure? “I don’t even know…” When was he off to Germany? “In a few months…” But on matters of football, his eyes light up. It’s clear what makes him tick.
Had he watched much of Bayern recently? “Yeah I watched the game a few days ago, 5-1 [against Union Berlin],” he says. “It was great to watch, it just shows the quality there with some of the players Thomas Müller, [Leon] Goretzka.”
Was it strange to watch a team, half a world away, that he’ll soon be joining? “It’s not too weird, I find it normal. I watch Adelaide United as well, I watch the games back, even when I don’t play,” he says. “It’s just football, I love football, I love watching, so it’s just something a normal human would do.”
The irony is Irankunda is not a normal human. He turned 18 in February, and that month became the youngest player to play 50 A-League Men matches. In March, he became the youngest player in league history to score a hat-trick.
And he triggered a selection drama this month when he was left out of Australia’s Olyroos team as they sought qualification for the Paris Games at the Asian Cup Under-23 competition. Irankunda made clear on Tuesday he wanted to play, at least initially. “I did want to go, originally,” he says. “But yeah, I wasn’t selected so I can’t really do much about it.”
Coach Tony Vidmar was strongly criticised for how he handled the selection. After originally saying he left Irankunda out to look after him in the long-term, he made an 11th-hour bid to sound the winger out when the squad was struck by injuries. That approach was rebuffed.
The side failed to score a goal in the tournament in Qatar, thereby missing the chance to go to France and join the Matildas at the Games. Irankunda says even after the selection saga, he still wanted the best for the team, and followed their matches closely. And he still harbours national team ambitions, after he was called into the Socceroos camp last year.
“It’s a dream of mine, being capped for the Socceroos, make history, get a few goals for them as well,” he says. “I wouldn’t mind getting a call-up, we’ll see what happens.”
Irankunda has added creativity to his game this year. Only four players have recorded more than his six assists in the A-League Men. But he is best known for his powerful shot, and his eight goals this season have arrived inside the box and out. “It’s natural, it’s a skill, for my dad as well, I’ve had it since I was a bit younger, but it’s carried on to now,” he says. “There’s still a few parts of my game that I need to, I guess, fix but that will happen over time, so stay patient, right?”
That can be difficult amid the extraordinary attention the 18-year-old is receiving. Hundreds of Adelaide fans lined up for his autograph in his final home match earlier this month, and even away sides have used him to market their fixtures. Irankunda says he and his teammates try to laugh off the level of scrutiny. “We find it funny, we find it silly so we just let it be,” he says.
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Much is made of Irankunda’s raw potential, but he admits he is increasingly thinking the game. No longer, he says, can he get away with playing purely on instinct. “When I was a bit younger, that’s how it was, but now things are getting serious, and you’ve also got to think of what you’re going to do before you get the ball.”
His choice of Bayern was made largely because of the plan the German giants had for him. Speculation hangs over manager Thomas Tuchel, but Irankunda says he trusts what the club has in stall for him. He’s started German lessons, although he admits he’s “struggling a bit”.
Bayern relinquished their 11-year grip on the Bundesliga title this year, thanks to the form of Bayer Leverkusen under Spanish manager Xabi Alonso. Although Bayern are set to finish more than 10 points behind the champions, Irankunda says his new club were “really unfortunate not to win it”. Although he will miss Australia, and especially his Adelaide teammates, he is excited to get over there.
There is talk he might be loaned out, or deployed initially in Bayern’s development sides. But Irankunda is still thinking he can contribute in his first season. “Possibly, hopefully, we’ll see what happens,” he says. He doesn’t necessarily sound confident. But, then again, this Australian has always let his football do the talking.
