Lake star rises above abuse

The rising Westmeath star caught at the centre of a racial storm last year insists he will never strike out in retaliation to abuse.

Aussie Rules target Israel Ilunga played in the 2013 Leinster minor final after a red card picked up in the semi-final win over Meath was dismissed following allegations of racism.

Ilunga fled war-torn Congo with his family as a nine-year old and now lives with his sister and an Irish family in Castletown, Westmeath. The 18-year-old is considering a university scholarship and revealed how his foster family have taught him to deal with racial comments during games.

“If I laugh and smile in someone’s face, it’s gonna hurt them more than if I hit them in the face,” said the powerful defender.

“I used to get angry about it but my foster parents took me aside and that’s the way I do things now. I would never hit a lad, never, it’s not in my nature but I wouldn’t be allowed anyway.

“Even when there’s any bit of pushing, any 50/50 balls, all I can hear from the pitch is my (foster) Dad in the stands telling me to calm down, every game!”

He added: “The club always back me, there’s not a chance my school manager James Carroll would let me suffer in any way if any form of racism occurred, I run out in Cusack Park and have people cheering my name, I feel incredibly lucky. We think we have problems, but every time I take to the pitch I say to myself “God, I’m lucky I have this”. If you were to compare it with Congo, kids have nothing, so I play as if it’s going to be my last time playing at any level, I realise how lucky I am”.

Ilunga took part in Aussie Rules trials conducted by Sydney Swans and Kerry legend Tadhg Kennelly last winter. He’s tipped by current minor manager Tommy Carr to progress through the U21 ranks and onto senior status. Ilunga admitted he’s grateful every day to simply be in Ireland following a war that claimed over five million lives in his native country. He was conferred with Irish citizenship this month after years of deportation fears.

Speaking to the ‘Next Generation Ireland’ blog, Ilunga recalled: “My parents tried to hide me from seeing everything around me. But I remember all the bad things, children having nothing to eat, going outside, fearing you’re going to get shot.”