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

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, can’t really do too much about it.”

Nestory Irankunda celebrates a goal for Adelaide United against Perth Glory.Credit: Getty

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 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 [cope 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.”

Nestory Irankunda was called up for the Socceroos but didn’t feature in their two recent friendlies against Ecuador.Credit: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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 sources close to the United teenager, who declined to speak publicly due to the sensitivity of the situation, said he had been informally approached 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.”

Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory’s Leigh Broxham, who started his career as the teenage kit man cleaning his teammates’ boots, will end it as a club legend and the A-League Men games record-holder.

Broxham, 36, will call time on his 18-season career at the end of Victory’s season, after debuting under Ernie Merrick back in 2007.

Leigh Broxham surrounded by his wife Sam and kids Billie, Sonny and Mila during his retirement announcement at AAMI Park.Credit: Getty Images

He has played more than 450 times for his only senior club, including 384 A-League Men’s games to date – a league record.

Back in 2006, there wasn’t a youth program, but an eager Broxham found a way into the Victory set-up, helping wash kits and boots as a train-on player.

“I got paid a couple hundred bucks a week, might’ve worked 60 hours a week or something like that – (a) bit of slave labour – but it was for me to be able to train with the team,” Broxham said.

“I’d come in the morning, 7am, pick up the gear, put it all out, clean the boys’ boots, just [a] proper old-school kit man if you want to call it that.

“That was my in, and it was my opportunity that I could train with the team. They’d finish up at midday and I’d go and wash the gear and sit in the office until 5pm.

“That’s my story. Everyone’s got a hardship story, but that was me. I worked myself to the bone and nine months later I got a professional contract.”

With AAP

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.