Rising star Amlani Tatu is one of a generation of players with African heritage, hoping to change the fact of the game. The teenager is already turning heads in South Australia’s National Premier League and hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of Kusini Yengi and Nestory Irankunda, who have both recently starred for the Socceroos.
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00:00A maiden goal for Australia, the second youngest player to score for the Socceroos.
00:07Nestori Irunkunda and Cassini Yengi starring for the national side, after stepping up to
00:12the top level.
00:13Both came through Adelaide United, which has become a development club for players with
00:18African heritage.
00:19Leaping into the frame next could be Amlani Tatu, already likens to Bayern Munich bounds
00:24Irunkunda.
00:25I'm not too focused on being compared to Nestor.
00:29Obviously Nestor is a great role model, Nestor's done himself, he's did everything, he's achieved
00:35a lot and I guess can't wait to see how he does in Europe.
00:39The 16-year-old is dominating in Adelaide's NPL team, with eight goals from 15 games.
00:45The teenager grew up with Irunkunda and is already turning heads with his speed and goal-scoring
00:50prowess.
00:51Zimbabwe-born Panache Madana is another, already a regular for the Reds in the A-League.
00:57If you work hard, if you apply yourself, the opportunities will be granted for young
01:00players here.
01:01That's something they remind us all the time, so it's just about staying grounded, staying
01:05focused.
01:06Yaya Dikuli, Awamabil and both Mohamed and Alhassan Toure have all also had stints overseas
01:13from the Reds.
01:14SA's success producing players with African heritage has been put down to its annual African
01:19Nations Cup.
01:21Football South Australia hopes to keep nurturing that talent and provide pathways to higher
01:25levels.
01:26There's certainly some high-profile players that have come out of the African community.
01:30It's a huge cohort of players who love the game and will continue to support them.
01:35As for Tatu, as comparisons to Irunkunda continue, the attention will only increase.
01:41Right now I'm not too focused on Europe, I'm just focused on breaking into the first team
01:45here at Adelaide United.
01:47An untapped talent who's sure to get his chance.