‘I did want to go’: Teen sensation on Olyroos snub after Olympic qualifiers disaster

Nestory Irankunda had two assists against Perth Glory on Sunday.

Australian teen sensation Nestory Irankunda has addressed his exclusion from Australia’s squad for this month’s Paris 2024 qualifiers, saying he would have liked the call-up.

“I did want to go originally, but yeah, [I] wasn’t selected,” the 18-year-old wunderkind bound for German giants Bayern Munich said at the A-Leagues All Stars kit launch at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday.

“So, (I) can’t really do too much about it.”

An Irankunda-less Olyroos failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics in Qatar this month after not managing to net a single goal in the group stage. The Australian side, essentially a second-string squad due to the tournament being scheduled outside a FIFA window, bowed out of the under-23 Asian Cup (which doubles as the Olympic qualifiers) scoreless and winless.

Irankunda, a natural goalscorer – who last month became the youngest player in the A-League Men’s competition to score a hat-trick, two of those within two minutes – was exactly the type of player missing from the Olyroos’ campaign.

“I’ve improved a lot throughout the season. I had a slow start but kind of finished strong now, with a few goals and (a) few assists,” said Irankunda on his campaign with Adelaide United.

“I guess I’ve shown that I can also get assists and not just goals. So, that’s something that you’d want in a player.”

Touching on what else he could do to receive the call-up for national duty next time, he said there were “still a few parts of my game that I need to, I guess, fix, but that will happen over time. So, stay patient.”

Irankunda turned down an 11th-hour approach to play in Australia’s Olympic qualifiers in Qatar, days after he was left out of the original squad due to fears it might “damage” him.

Olyroos coach Tony Vidmar originally defended the exclusion of Irankunda from Australia’s squad, saying it was a “bigger picture” call made in the best interests of a player he says should be a star Socceroo for the next 15 years.

At the time, Vidmar said he did not want to burden the teenager, who is arguably the most exciting Australian talent in decades, with further pressure.

“He’s just turned 18 and that’s a big ask for him to come in and (deal with) all these expectations from people outside,” said Vidmar.

“Because I asked him about the expectation, and it’s been challenging for him. And to throw that on a young kid, it can do more damage. We know the talent that he has, but we are very confident with the squad that we have.”

Irankunda turned down the approach to play in Australia’s Olympic qualifiers when winger Marco Tilio went down with an injury before the international tournament.

This masthead reported that multiple sources close to the United teenager, who declined to speak publicly due to the sensitivity of the situation, said he had been informally sounded out to join the squad. However, Irankunda decided, according to the sources, that he was better off staying put and playing for Adelaide’s fixtured games.

Vidmar could very well be now ruing that initial decision, given the Australian side will be missing from Paris 2024.

Irankunda said he had watched the first two of the Olyroos’ group games, where Australia drew 0-0 with Jordan and lost 0-1 to Indonesia, and said it was “great” to watch his friends play.

The teen prodigy was called up to Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad for two friendlies against Ecuador in March last year, but didn’t feature in the matches. Just 17 at the time, Irankunda was originally intended as a train-on player but was elevated to the 26-man squad when midfielder Riley McGree fell ill.

Irankunda said despite the Olyroos debacle and overseas opportunities, getting to represent Australia with the Socceroos was still an ambition for him.

“Of course, it’s a dream of mine: to cap for the Socceroos and make history, get a few goals for them as well,” said Irankunda. “But yeah, I wouldn’t mind getting a call-up.”

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