Burundi to Adelaide and the 2026 World Cup
Local
Ahead of Australia's World Cup match against Paraguay on Friday 26 June, TIM COYLE spoke to an altar server at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral who played an important part in helping the Socceroos' man of the moment- Nestory Irankunda - settle in Adelaide.
It took little more than five seconds for Nestory Irankunda to capture the imagination of Australian sports fans and become the youngest ever Australian goalscorer at a World Cup in the Socceroos’ 2-0 victory over Türkiye in Vancouver on 14 June.
From the moment he finessed the ball past two Turkish defenders without breaking stride to finish quite beautifully, Irankunda seemed on a mission to deliver on the lavish potential he’d displayed as a youngster for Adelaide United.
While his goal was the culmination of a short, electric burst, for Joel Hakizimana it was a moment with a longer, deeper genesis.
Like Irankunda (pictured), Hakizimana has a Burundian background, displaced by the civil war that ravaged their country throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Hakizimana eventually settled in Adelaide in 2005 where, along with his Catholic faith (he is an altar server at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral every Sunday) and participation in Burundian drumming, playing football for Burundi FC SA proved a profound connection to his community and new environment.
His dedication on the field translated to leadership off the pitch.
“Since around 2008, I’ve been either president or assistant,” he said.
“Today I’m the president of the Burundi team. I also work as a community social and events coordinator.”
As a player, Hakizimana was a dependable full-back, a deputy centre back and an occasional striker. “Sometimes the coach would push me up front because he trusted me to create chances and score.”
Such versatility reveals commitment to the cause, but when it came to a young Nestory Irankunda there was never any doubt where he belonged.
“He was always a winger,” Hakizimana said. More evident still, was that Irankunda belonged on a bigger stage.
“Even when he was small, he would join in with the older boys. He never really played like a kid. He was confident, not worried about size or anything like that.”
It has been a remarkable rise for the boy who played for Adelaide Croatia before signing for Adelaide United as a 15-year-old and lighting up the A-League. Remarkably, German heavyweights Bayern Munich soon came calling.
“When he signed for Bayern, we were all like, ‘Wow, things can happen!’ We were so excited and so happy for him,” Hakizimana said.
“It’s not just about him. He’s become an example for other young people in the Burundian community. He shows that if you work hard, you can get where you want to be.”
Bayern Munich are a prolific producer of youth talent and simply being onboard allowed Irankunda to grow. This allowed him to sign for Watford in England’s Championship, where he became a fan favourite in the 2025-26 campaign.
Prioritising playing time has already yielded dividends. If the strike against Türkiye was a moment of individual brilliance, it was also a poignant one for those who stewarded him through his early years on the pitch.
“When he scored, I was running around the house. I’m still tired from it!” Hakizimana said. “We knew we were playing a tough team, so we didn’t expect such a big result. But they worked hard and got the win against one of the top teams in the world. I was very excited! I was jumping everywhere. It was a very special moment.”
Even as Irankunda rises to the pinnacle of the world game, Hakizimana observes a fondness and connection to his roots, within the Burundian community and Adelaide more broadly.
“Whenever he comes back to Adelaide, he still trains with the boys and connects with the community,” he said. “He’s always stayed involved, with both the community team and with club football here.”
