''I went into the under 15s, it was the same story then, people thought I was too small, but I showed I was strong enough. ''Then I was told that it might be good for me to play on the wing, that I will get more space there. I had always played as a No.10, but they said I might get pushed around a bit much there.'' That is the only concession he has made to those who feared his short stature would count against him. Kamsoba takes a moment with the crowd after a Victory game in Adelaide. Credit:AAP Quick, sharp, skilful, the Burundi-born winger – his family fled civil war in his native country when he was barely four months old – has looked lively, energetic and dangerous whenever he has been given a chance by Victory boss Kevin Muscat.

He made his debut against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh – in the city in which he grew up – just after Christmas and has been a regular match-day squad member since, often used off the bench to spark things up if Victory are chasing a result. He has yet to score for Victory, but he is hopeful that it is only a matter of time. This weekend's derby against Melbourne City would be a great place to break his duck, he laughs, still marvelling at the transition which has seen him move seamlessly from the Melbourne Knights and then Avondale in the NPL to Victory. Kamsoba in action in the NPL with Avondale. Credit:AAP ''At first it's hard to come from NPL to the A-League. You have players who have been playing A-League for quite some time, they have the experience,'' he explains, admitting that Muscat's confidence in him has played a major role in helping him make such a speedy adjustment. ''He tells me to do the right thing, just keep playing football you are doing well, keep working hard.

Loading ''When you are outside you hear a lot of negative and positive stuff. I heard he was a hard man when he was playing, you hear this and that, but once you get to know him you know he is a great guy.'' Leaving Adelaide was a wrench. The Knights first approached Kamsoba when the now 22-year-old was just 18, but he wasn't ready to leave his family at that time. But when a second call came at the end of 2016 he knew the time was right as things weren't quite happening for him with his home-town club. Then coach Josep Gombau had called him and was keen, he said, but Gombau left swiftly and Kamsoba's chance seemed to go with him. ''You feel down, you feel like it's not going to happen, but people tell you it's not the end of the world, so you just keep going ...