Michael Jackson’s Rhythm Inspires Young Footballer’s World Cup Ambitions
Australia’s 20-year-old football sensation, Nestory Irankunda, is channeling the spirit of Michael Jackson as he prepares to make a significant impact at the World Cup. The Watford winger draws inspiration from the King of Pop to overcome pre-match nerves, even practicing iconic dance moves in his kitchen.
Irankunda shared his unique pre-game ritual: “I can’t help myself. Every time I’m out there I start doing the moonwalk while listening to his music. For me, I love the rhythm – and there’s always great beats to his songs. His voice was unreal and nobody will ever make music like he did.”
Viral Moment and Iconic Glove
The young player gained widespread attention in March after a match against Curacao, where he celebrated a goal by mimicking his idol. A sequinned glove, provided by Australian sports photographer Nic Marinoni, was passed to Irankunda during the game. “Nic messaged me a day or two before the game and told me, ‘I’ve bought a Michael Jackson glove because I’m aware you’re a huge fan. I’ll bring it along.’ So I scored and after doing my trademark signature backflip celebration I saw him and ran over to do a little dance. He’s chucked me the glove, which I managed to catch and put on my right hand, before doing an MJ move. It was great to do something like that,” Irankunda recounted.
Musical Motivation for Performance
His pre-match playlist is exclusively dedicated to Michael Jackson’s discography. Irankunda finds motivation in songs like “Smooth Criminal” to energize him, while “Will You Be There” provides a calming influence. “Before games I listen to Smooth Criminal a lot. That’s the one that gets me going. Will You Be There is right up there for me too. Usually you have nerves before a match, so that does calm me down because it’s such a relaxing song,” he explained.
A Journey of Family Sacrifice
Irankunda’s path to professional football is marked by significant family sacrifice. Born in a refugee camp in Tanzania after his parents fled civil war in Burundi, the family eventually settled in Australia. Moving from Perth to Adelaide, Irankunda’s prodigious talent was recognized early on, but his parents faced financial hurdles in supporting his football aspirations alongside his brothers’.
“My brothers sacrificed playing football so my parents could put their money into making sure I could. Sometimes I look back and I’m like, ‘Wow’ because it could have been them. All three of us could be on the world stage doing what we love,” Irankunda stated, acknowledging the profound impact of his family’s dedication. His father, Gideon, worked tirelessly as a taxi driver, even sacrificing his Sunday church time to transport him to matches.
Repaying a Nation’s Generosity
Now, Irankunda aims to represent Australia with pride, a nation that provided his family with a better life. With 15 caps and five goals for the national team, he feels a deep connection to his adopted country. “They took us to Australia to have a better life. I feel like I’m Australian. There’s no real way for us to give back properly what they’ve given us— but trying to perform for them can at least repay the country a little bit,” he said.
From Defender to Attacker, with a Bayern Munich Stint
Interestingly, Irankunda’s early footballing aspirations were to be a defender, idolizing figures like Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. However, around the age of 11, his playing style evolved into that of an attacking player. “I wanted to be like Puyol and Gerard Pique when I was younger – but around the age of 11 I transformed into an attacking player. But I still love a cheeky slide tackle. Even in training, I’m always slide tackling. It’s just an instinct,” he noted.
His exceptional talent led to a move to German giants Bayern Munich, where he trained alongside international stars like Harry Kane and Eric Dier. “I spoke with Harry and Eric, they were great lads. Even Alphonso Davies, they kept you grounded a bit and made you feel welcome. But the levels are different. Being at Bayern or Barcelona, you see the quality in passes, the running, finishing, everything,” he observed.
Challenging Championship Season and World Cup Aspirations
Irankunda joined Watford last July, navigating a challenging Championship season characterized by four managerial changes, which saw the team finish 16th. “It’s such an intense league. It’s so back and forth in the games. It’s been tough with four different managers. Before Moussa Sissoko left in February, he kept all us young boys grounded and helped me settle in,” he commented.
Australia is set to begin their World Cup campaign against Turkey. Despite facing a tough group that includes hosts USA and Paraguay, Irankunda is optimistic about his team’s chances. “It has always been my dream to play at a World Cup. I used to watch Australia and idolised Tim Cahill. I wanted to become someone like him and do something special. People just think, ‘Oh, it’s Australia, they’ve got no chance.’ But we’ve got not just a talented squad but a lot of hard-working players. We can compete and our aim is to get out of the group. Then who knows?” he stated, expressing his belief that the Socceroos can cause an upset and achieve their goal of advancing from the group stage.
