SA-raised Elvis Kamsoba set to represent homeland Burundi at Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt

SA-raised Elvis Kamsoba is dreaming big as he prepares to represent his country of birth at the Africa Cup of Nations, two decades after fleeing his war-torn homeland as a toddler.

A journey which began fleeing his war-torn homeland as a toddler will go full circle for Elvis Kamsoba when he represents his country of birth at its first major tournament.

The SA-raised winger was set to line-up for Burundi in its Africa Cup of Nations debut against Nigeria in Alexandria, Egypt, on Sunday morning (SA time).

It would complete a remarkable rise for the Melbourne Victory speedster, who arrived in Adelaide with his family aged 11 after spending a decade in a Tanzanian refugee camp.

“It’s something you can’t even think of,” Kamsoba, 22, said.

“We left our home (Burundi) at a very young age, so now going back to play for them is crazy to even talk about. It’s something that I didn’t really expect to happen, but it was a very proud moment being selected in the last 23 (players).

SA-raised Elvis Kamsoba has been selected to represent his country of birth, Burundi, at the Africa Cup of Nations. Picture: Supplied

“All my family back in Burundi have been calling me and sending me good luck messages.

“Now the aim is to break into the first XI and show the world what I can do.”

Kamsoba burst on to the national stage with Victorian club Avondale last year, winning the Mike Cockerill Medal for the best NPL player in the FFA Cup.

It earned the former Elizabeth Grove, Playford City, Raiders and Croydon Kings talent his first professional contract with then reigning A-League champion Victory.

Kamsoba’s impressive 16-match top-flight arrival caught the eye of national team scouts for world No. 134th Burundi, but he turned down their initial advances.

SA-raised Elvis Kamsoba with the Burundi national team. Picture: Supplied

Elvis Kamsoba training with Burundi ahead of the east African nation’s major tournament debut. Picture: Supplied

The lure of joining the likes of Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, as well as Manchester City gun Riyad Mahrez, at the biennial event eventually won out.

“My aim was always to play A-League and maybe play for the Socceroos,” said Kamsoba, who left SA for two-time NSL champion Melbourne Knights in 2017.

“But football has taken me on a different path and I’m thankful for where it’s taken me.

“When I got the call-up from them (Burundi) I was still unsure what I wanted to do.

“But in the end wherever your heart takes you, you just have to go.

“Being able to represent my country in the Africa Cup of Nations is a big opportunity and I’m sure it will be something special to be playing in front of the whole world.

Winger Elvis Kamsoba during his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory against hometown team Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium. Picture: James Elsby/Getty Images

“I just took the chance because it’s a big one for any player.”

The FFSA National Training Centre graduate travelled to Qatar for a two-week training camp last month having been named in Burundi’s extended 30-man squad.

Kamsoba’s raw pace, flair and bravery helped him make the final cut for the continental titles and receive his first international cap in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Tunisia on Tuesday.

He would link up with teammate and Stoke City forward Saido Berahino against Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) and Jon Obi Mikel (Middlesbrough, ex-Chelsea) in the Swallows’ Group B opener.

“If I’m on the same field, I always try to believe that I’m as good as them or I’m even better,” the 164cm wide man said.

Elvis Kamsoba performs his trademark backflip goal celebration during Avondale’s FFA Cup run last year. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

“It’s my first time seeing the (Burundi) boys in camp, but they are encouraging me and pushing me because they’ve seen what I can do.

“It’s our first time being in the Africa Cup of Nations in our history, so the boys are quite motivated to prove we can play football.

“Our goal as a team if to get out of the group stages and then we want to go as far as we can.

“Everyone looks down on us and says ‘who’s Burundi?’

“But we want to show who Burundi can be and who we are.”

Kamsoba credited training and playing alongside Japanese great Keisuke Honda and Swedish striker Ola Toivonen at club level last season for helping him adapt to national team duty.

Speedster Elvis Kamsoba as teenager with National Premier Leagues SA club Raiders in 2015. Picture: Campbell Brodie.

He said thriving under the demands of departed Victory coach Kevin Muscat had given him the belief to dream of a future career overseas.

“People say he (Muscat) is tough,” said Kamsoba, who made his A-League bow against hometown team Adelaide United in January.

“But if he asked me to do something, I just did it for him.

“From the moment I went to the club, the coach kind of liked me.

“That gave me a lot of confidence and made me grow as a player.

“The long-term aim is not to only play in the A-League, but to go as far as I can.

“This Africa tournament might help me do that – who knows what can happen tomorrow?”