Nestory Irankunda is the first player of a new generation in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The teenager made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut for Adelaide United at 15 years and 333 days of age against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, to sit sixth on the list of youngest ever debutants in the league.
But importantly, the Reds teen became the very first player born after the first Isuzu UTE A-League fixture in August, 2005 to make his debut.
It’s the latest in a string of stories about young talent being unearthed in the Isuzu UTE A-League after the recent debut of 16-year-old Adelaide goalkeeper Steven Hall, who became the youngest goalkeeper to debut in league history.
But despite Hall topping the list of young keepers after his first Reds appearance – a 4-0 win over Wellington Phoenix on New Years Day – the young shot-stopper was unable to join Irankunda on the list of the top 10 youngest players from any position to debut in the league.
Wondering, like us, who made that list and what ever happened to them?
Of the top ten players on said list, seven debuted as 15-year-olds, including Irankunda, his Adelaide teammate Mohamed Toure and Macarthur FC star Daniel De Silva.
Here is the top 10, and what happened next in their careers.
1. Teeboy Kamara
Debuted for Adelaide United on December 16, 2011 at 15 years, 212 days.
Kamara owns top spot on the list of youngest Isuzu UTE A-League debutants after making his one and only appearance for Adelaide United in a 3-0 loss to Gold Coast United in December, 2011.
But Kamara wouldn’t feature for the Reds’ senior side again, eventually joining NPL WA Men’s side Inglewood United in 2014. Kamara enjoyed a successful spell at NPL VIC Men’s outfit Green Gully before signing for Preston Lions in November, 2021.
2. Idrus Abdulahi
Debuted for Melbourne City on April 26, 2019 at 15 years, 216 days.
Abdulahi made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut in April, 2019 for Melbourne City in a 5-0 win over Central Coast Mariners. The 10-minute debut cameo is one of two league appearances Abdulahi collected across two seasons at City (2018/19 and 2019/20), with his second coming against Brisbane Roar in January, 2020.
Abdulahi starred in Australia’s U-17 World Cup campaign in Brazil in 2019, featuring four times for Trevor Morgan’s side that progressed to the tournament’s round of 16.
3. Max Caputo
Debuted for Melbourne City on June 6, 2021 at 15 years, 293 days.
Melbourne City striker Max Caputo is the most recent debutant to crack the top 10, making his senior appearance for Patrick Kisnorbo’s side late last season in a 1-1 Melbourne Derby draw with Melbourne Victory.
Caputo remains at the club with the likes of Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout and Mathew Leckie to learn off in training and aspire to contend with for further opportunities in the senior side this season.
4. Mohamed Toure
Debuted for Adelaide United on February 8, 2020 at 15 years, 319 days.
Mohamed Toure made a bright start to life in the Isuzu UTE A-League, scoring in just his second game for Adelaide United after debuting for the Reds against Brisbane Roar in February, 2020.
Brother of former Adelaide forward Al Hassan, now of Macarthur FC, Toure has 29 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances and three goals to his name, as he progresses through his third season as part of Adelaide’s first team squad.
5. Jonny Yull
Debuted for Adelaide United on January 20, 2021 at 15 years, 321 days.
Of the ten youngest debutants in Isuzu UTE A-League history, three made their senior bow in 2021 – Adelaide’s Jonny Yull was the first of those three to do so.
Yull debuted in a 5-3 Adelaide loss to Perth Glory in January, 2021, making a second appearance nearly three months later against Macarthur FC.
6. Nestory Irankunda
Debuted for Adelaide United on January 8, 2022 at 15 years, 333 days.
Debuting at 15 years and 333 days, Irankunda became the sixth-youngest player in history to play in the Isuzu UTE A-League, appearing off the bench for Adelaide United against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
The Original Rivalry clash at AAMI Park – which ended 1-1 between the two fierce rivals – will be remembered for its ferocious finish, in which both goals were scored past the 80-minute mark.
Born on February 16, 2006, Irankunda is the very first player to feature in the league who was born after the league’s inaugural fixture in August, 2005.
Irankunda sits sixth on the list of all-time youngest debutants behind Yull, Toure, Caputo, Abdulahi and Kamara. He’s the fourth player in the top six (alongside Kamara, Toure and Yull) to have made their debut with the Reds.
7. Daniel De Silva
Debuted for Perth Glory on March 2, 2013 at 15 years, 361 days.
De Silva burst onto the scene when he debuted for Perth Glory as a 15-year-old in 2013. He was subsequently signed by Italian side AS Roma, a move which fell through and led to his departure from Perth to join Dutch outfit Roda JC on loan.
He would then come home to Australia to sign for Central Coast Mariners. He was loaned to Sydney FC for one season before returning to Gosford where he rediscovered his best form under Alen Stajcic at the Mariners in 2020/21. De Silva is now at Macarthur FC where he continues to shine, proving that at just 24 years of age, his development is far from over.
8. Alusine Fofanah
Debuted for Western Sydney Wanderers on January 19, 2014 at 16 years, 59 days.
Sierra Leone-born Australian Alusine Fofanah had a trial with English giants Manchester City at the age of 14, returning to Australia to earn his first senior appearance for the Wanderers against the Reds in January, 2014.
Fofanah now plays for NSW NPL Men’s side Mt. Druitt Town Rangers.
9. Gabriel Popovic
Debuted for Perth Glory on November 9, 2019 at 16 years, 104 days.
Son of former Wanderers, Glory and current Melbourne Victory boss Tony Popovic, Gabriel Popovic announced himself to the Isuzu UTE A-League at 16 years of age in late 2019 in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle Jets.
He would go on to make a further 12 appearances throughout the 2019/20 season. Popovic currently plays for Rudeš in the Croatian second division.
10. Archie Goodwin
Debuted for Newcastle Jets on February 21, 2021 at 16 years, 106 days.
Goodwin joined Caputo and Yull in making his Isuzu UTE A-League debut in 2021, featuring eight times for Newcastle Jets in a barnstorming run toward the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
Goodwin debuted against Melbourne Victory in February, 2021 and continued to grow in confidence with each passing game, capping off his season with a goal against eventual champions Melbourne City in his last appearance of the season.
Goodwin is yet to future in the current campaign under new Jets head coach Arthur Papas.
