Adelaide United teenager Nestory Irankunda ‘frustrated’ with on-field treatment

A-League teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda is grateful for his coach’s call for him to receive more ‘protection’ during games.

Nestory Irankunda (right) wants better protection from referees. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Adelaide United whiz-kid Nestory Irankunda agrees with Reds coach Carl Veart’s call for referees to give the teenage sensation better “protection”.

Irankunda’s Reds have been thrust into a do-or-die finals battle against Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium on Friday night on the back of an embarrassing 4-1 home loss to the Central Coast Mariners last week.

After his side’s defeat, Veart told Paramount + that Irankunda “hasn’t been protected at all this year”.

“As soon as he steps one foot over the line, he gets punished. This is one of the most promising young players in Australia,” Veart said.

“Nestor needs to start getting protection from the referees.

“I think he was checked three or four times when he first came on (against the Mariners), and nothing.

“It’s been like that all season.”

Irankunda backed his coach’s comments.

“He’s not wrong,” the 17-year-old attacker told News Corp Australia.

“Some people may see it in a different way, but he just wants his players to be protected.

“I got checked off the ball (a certain) amount of times so that frustrated me and frustrated some of the players and some of the coaches.

“He’s just trying to stick up for me and I appreciate that a lot.”

Nestory Irankunda celebrates scoring for Adelaide United. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

However, Irankunda wasn’t expecting the referees to listen to Veart.

“We’re not too happy with the VAR decisions given, some red cards have been soft, some yellow cards have been really soft,” he said.

“You make one foul, and it’s a yellow card straight away, (but) some players get away with it.

“They make six fouls before they get their first yellow card.

“That’s happened with me a lot this year.

“I’ve made my first foul and got a yellow card for it.”

However, Irankunda expected the Reds to overcome any potential issues with the officiating to beat the Phoenix on Friday night after learning a valuable lesson late in the regular season.

“We looked too far ahead, and that killed us,” he said.

“We dropped off with our performances, but hopefully we can switch it around now.

“The Phoenix don’t have anything to lose.

“They’re going to come out full on.

“They’re probably not going to give us a chance to breathe, so we’re just going to have to match their intensity and go a bit harder, which we will.

“The team we have this year, it’s a really special squad.

“We’re going to put in 100 per cent, and we’re not going to give them a chance.”

Originally published as Adelaide United teenager Nestory Irankunda ‘frustrated’ with on-field treatment