Adelaide United coach Carl Veart said two A-League clubs wanted teenage star Nestory Irankunda banned for not attending the Olyroos AFC U-23 Cup.
Australia faces Jordan in the opening match in Qatar on Monday night with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games’ qualification also at stake.
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Coach Tony Vidmar had left Irankunda out of his original Olyroos squad, but reports suggest the teenager was recently approached to replace injured Melbourne City attacker Marco Tilio.
Veart was incensed after Adelaide’s 2-1 loss to 10-man Macarthur where Irankunda scored a world-class opening first-half goal before botching a penalty at the death at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
“He (Irankunda) didn’t speak to anyone at all from the FA (Football Australia),’’ Veart said.
“I don’t know where it’s coming from, I had a conversation with (Olyroos coach) Tony Vidmar before the squad was announced and had a conversation after the squad was announced and I had a conversation with him this week.
“At no time did they select him, and I suppose it’s disappointing that two clubs wanted to try and stop a young player from playing football.
“It says more about the two clubs rather than Nestor.”
Veart said two clubs Adelaide would play in the run home called for Irankunda to be stood down.
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“I think it’s easy (to see which clubs have called for the suspension), we have four games left and we’ve got one more to play,’’ Veart said before Adelaide plays Western United, Central Coast and Brisbane Roar away.
“You’ve got to get the full story and they have jumped without knowing all the information, so what can I do.”
Western coach John Aloisi reportedly said he was comfortable with Irankunda lining up against his side on Tuesday night in Melbourne.
And Macarthur coach Mile Sterjovski denied that his club called for a ban on 18-year-old Irankunda.
“If there is a rule in place and I’m not sure if there is or not; but if a player refuses to go for the national team, I think he shouldn’t play but I’m not sure about that,’’ Sterjovski said.
“I think there were a few players from other clubs that contemplated staying behind (to play A-League) and were told they couldn’t, so that’s what I have heard, I’m not sure if it’s all true.”
Veart believes Irankunda should benefit from playing abroad for Bayern Munich where he is expected to start his contract with the Bundesliga giant in June.
“It’s going to be difficult for him but better for him to leave the country because here we just don’t know how to look after our young players,’’ Veart said.
“It’s disappointing that amount of talk about him and (it would) be easier for me – where I can have press conferences and every question is not about Nestor.
“We’re always having a go.
“Instead of supporting our young players and not putting them up high so we can knock them down, we should always look to push them up.
“We always look at the negatives and try to take away the good things.”