'Smiling since last night': Community joy after Irankunda's World Cup goal

Adelaide's own Nestory Irankunda, at just 20 years old, has etched his name in Socceroos history by becoming the youngest player to score a goal in a World Cup match. He opened the scoring against Türkiye on Sunday, paving the way for Australia's significant 2-0 victory in their opening game of the tournament.

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We started celebrating when he was just about to shoot and everything just … went dark, we were just jumping around.

The Tanzanian-born talent, who hails from Adelaide's northern suburbs, is one of five players from the city to feature in this year's World Cup squad. His family and community are experiencing profound emotions following his debut goal. His cousin, Vianne Kurikwimana, described the moment as "very, very emotional," recounting how the family erupted in celebration.

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Gideon was very emotional, [it's the] very first time I've ever seen him this emotional in my life.

Irankunda's father, Gideon Rurandagaye, expressed immense pride, noting that years of practice, which sometimes involved breaking household windows, had paid off. Adelaide United coach Airton Andrioli recalled identifying Irankunda's unique potential early on, recognizing that his spirited nature, if channeled correctly, would be a powerful asset.

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Sometimes I teach him in the park and home, I show him some things … sometimes he broke windows and glasses in the home … very naughty.

Andrioli highlighted Irankunda's inspirational impact on younger players and aspiring footballers during his time at the club. The community, particularly in Adelaide's northern suburbs where Irankunda grew up playing local soccer, has been a crucial support system, providing financial assistance, transportation, and equipment. This collective backing has culminated in Irankunda's success on the world stage, a moment of shared pride for all who supported him.

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The description of his father saying that he was a bit naughty, I can say that I agree with that because he was a bit of a handful to handle. I didn't feel that as a problem. I saw that if that can be guided in the right direction, into the right channel, then it can be a good recipe with all the other attributes he already had.