The year 2000 was monumental; it brought about the once in a lifetime turn of a millennium, the iconic film Gladiator was released, and the New York Yankees demolished the New York Mets 4-1 in baseball’s World Series.

But unknown to many, a star was unleashed into the world in the Sudanese city of Khartoum.

Since then and after having honed his craft in the Shepparton football community, Alou Kuol has transcended from a diamond in the rough to the Goulburn Valley Suns’ crown jewel.

Armed with bagfuls of raw talent and confidence to boot, the boy wonder has been lighting up the Victorian football scene since donning the orange jersey in 2014.

The Youth Academy scouts met with Kuol to talk about how he achieved his meteoric rise from new kid on the block to a goal-scoring menace for the region’s representative football club.

The prodigal Sun

Joining the Orange Army as a fresh-faced 12-year-old, Kuol has played just about every position on the park for the Suns’ youth sides.

But once making the shift into the forward line, he has unlocked a freakish goal-scoring ability that has thrust him into the spotlight and given the Goulburn Valley faithful a name to shout from the sidelines.

Youth Academy: How has the new NPL season been so far?

Alou Kuol: It’s been rough bro, we drew the first game, that was depressing. We were winning 2-0, they equalised. It’s just lapses, simple mistakes, in the key moments of the game we switch off and bang, we get punished. That’s what happens at this level though.

YA: You’ve become a regular in the seniors, how was the step up from under-20s to seniors?

AK: It’s intense man. When I look back at 20s, these guys are so slow man.

In seniors, these guys are full-on quick, bang, bang, bang, they’re all physical and all that. It’s physical, it’s tough, you’ve got to be faster and you get tired quicker.

Everything is just times 10, it’s messed up.

YA: Last season you famously netted seven goals in an under-20s game against Box Hill — how did you manage that?

AK: It was a good day. There were two jammy goals, one the goalkeeper was off his line, it came through and I headed it. Another one of the goals, Brenton (Urbaniak) shot, it was basically rolling in, but the keeper would have saved it, I saw it and got a deflection in. I just pounced on all their errors, punished them basically, crucified them.

A Kuolity journey

Influenced by many different aspects of the community, Kuol attributes his success on the field to his younger days and the prominent forces that shaped him.

The versatile 18-year-old has had exposure to various situations on and off the pitch and has credited his ability to adapt to his family as well as the figures who have taken him under their wing.

YA: When did you move to Australia? And do you like living in Shepparton?

AK: In 2005. I lived in Sydney for two years, then I moved to Shepp and I’ve been here ever since.

I was four turning five. I remember a little bit, I was born in Khartoum, Sudan, and lived there for about two years and then moved to Egypt. I stayed there for one-and-a-half years and then came straight to Australia.

Australia is cool, it’s better than where we come from. Shepparton is good man, they love Africans in Shepparton.

YA: Which clubs did you start playing for in Shepparton?

AK: I played St Brendan’s school soccer, then I played for the (Shepparton Junior Soccer Association) rep team, then Shepparton and straight to Suns. That’s where it started.

It was a step up, because Shepp compared to the NPL — we were clapping Kyabram 9-0 for fun man. Numurkah, Tatura, we all knew it was a good day when we played them.

YA: What positions have you played?

AK: In under-14s I played right back, but we were just chilling, they didn’t have a set position for me, so I just played anywhere they told me. The next year we were short on numbers, we had like eight players, so they put me and Willie (Sauiluma) centre back.

Afterwards, I played for Grammar, they loved me man, I played up front. I was scoring goals here, scoring goals there, I racked up at least like 20 goals in like six games. It was fun.

I was playing 18s that year, (coach) Pat (Kielty) came to one of my Grammar games and saw me scoring goals for fun, I was on the bench for 18s, he needed a striker and he subbed me on up front. I scored three goals that day. From that day on, every week up top, up top.

YA: Which coaches have had a big influence on you?

AK: Big time coaches? Sir Patrick (Kielty). Day one coach. The guy’s been with me since day one. This guy is a veteran, you’ve got to put Sir every time you use his name.

He would take me to games, pick me up from games, he was always around the family. He’s the one who gave me game time, every other coach until then didn’t give me game time. Until Patrick showed them I was good, otherwise I was chilling on the bench every team I played at.

Pat cried for the team when we lost, we made our coach cry, so you know he feels for the game.

YA: You have three brothers currently at the Suns — Teng, Garang and Didi — which one is the best?

AK: The original. Me bro. These guys are like different upgrades, updated models, like the newer they get the better they get. But at the end of the day you just want the basic thing that gets the job done. They look fancier but big man, this is what you want here.

But the best one? It’s going to be Didi man. He’s nine, and this guy’s already getting injured, he comes back and says ‘oh I’ve got a sore back’. I’m like ‘you’re nine bro’.

He’s gonna be the best, I’ll look after him for now and give him everything, but I expect something in return big man.

YA: What do you do outside of football?

AK: I’m a chef, kitchenhand at The Deck, you’ll find me cooking. I’m a veteran chef, everybody adores me at The Deck, it’s crazy, that’s the place to be.

Parma Night, Wednesday night, Steak Night, Friday night, Sunday’s are Sudo Sundays, me and Hammad (Agog) will be cooking on Sundays.

Tiki-taka

YA: Who is your footballing idol?

AK: I don’t have one, I just roll with it. Everybody has their own thing, I try and pick up a piece from everyone. It’s like Ben 10 you know what I’m saying?

YA: What is your favourite footballing moment?

AK: The time I scored seven easy, come on bro. You’re not gonna score seven next week or the week after. I scored a chip that day, a left foot, a header. I scored everything, plus two, and another one, and another one.

YA: What has been a low point in your career?

AK: We were playing Melbourne City about two years ago, we were 2-0 down, I was playing right back, I was playing well, I had Gianluca (Ianucci) on lock, in my back pocket all day.

They put me up front, I assisted Rocky then I scored an equaliser, we were going crazy. They got a corner in the 90th minute and score a header. All this for that?

YA: If you could play for any team who would it be?

AK: I don’t like any of the big six because everyone will say you’re bandwagoning. I’d play with Crystal Palace and play with the brothers.

YA: What is your next career goal?

AK: Winning the league this year. It’s gonna happen, we’re gonna win the league, we just need a few good wins. Next year NPL One, what’s up?

Youth Academy is an ongoing investigation into the Goulburn Valley’s footballing wonderkids. Each week we will profile an upcoming talent who has captured the attention of the local football scene.

More from the Youth Academy series

Youth Academy: Willie Sauiluma

Youth Academy: Alicia Rowan

Youth Academy: Gianluca Ianucci

Youth Academy: Liam Kielty

Youth Academy: Sophie Papalia

Youth Academy: Fraser Gosstray

Youth Academy: Majak Mawith

Youth Academy: Lucas Enders

Youth Academy: Marcus Thomas

Youth Academy: Brandon Giaccherini

Youth Academy: James Nieuwenhuizen

Youth Academy: Leia Varley

Youth Academy: Jacob Martinek