For all that the lockdown has made life difficult for the younger cohort at clubs all across Scotland, with no real games programme to speak of, the AFC academy continues to make its mark with plenty of young players populating the bench this term and with Ryan Duncan and Kieran Ngwenya making their first team debuts.

Kieran signed his first full-time contract at the club this season after being a regular in the U18s last term, having a hugely impressive season, whilst also continuing his full-time studies. A product of the Tynecastle Boys Club in Edinburgh, the left-back was a Scottish Juvenile Youth player, and Scottish Cup Youth finalist. A tremendous athlete, his maturity and footballing ability alongside his work ethic make for a very impressive young man with, hopefully, a big future ahead of him.

“I am actually Glasgow born but we moved to Edinburgh quite early on, just after my fourth birthday, so most of my childhood has been in Edinburgh. I was at Cramond Primary school for a few years before my parents moved me over to Stewart’s Melville College to further my education. In terms of football, from a young age I was with Tynecastle Boys Club and they really helped me get to where I am today. They helped me reach a good standard before being scouted and joining Aberdeen. The coaches were so helpful to me. I still get messages from then now. I am very grateful to them for getting me to where I am now.

“Stewart’s Melville is well known for being a rugby school and I did play a bit! I was a winger, I would sit out wide and not get involved too much with the rough stuff. When the ball came to me, I would run round everyone! I would only get a few touches and would score a few tries. I was this height and size pretty much when I was 12 and had the same pace, so I could run round everyone and through everyone! I’m not sure I would be able to do the same now. I was invited by Edinburgh for trials but never took it too seriously. I was always more focused on my football.

“At Tynecastle Boys Club, I started off at 11 years old as a centre midfielder. I then got pushed out wide and even played at centre-back a few times. I only settled at left-back a couple of years ago. When I sat back and thought about my potential career and thought where I might be best, where I could excel, I decided left-back would be good for me. So at U16 level I made the transition and I have gone on from there really.

“At U13 level, I played in a Scottish Cup final. I remember it quite well as I scored the winner in the semi-final in extra-time to get us there. It was probably the goal of my career so far! We lost in the final though to Bank O’Dee. A couple of the boys who were here last year, Lewis Duncan and Kyle Dalling, played in that game and they beat us 4-1 so they gave me quite a bit of chat about that! I had to take it on the chin!

“Every boy has the dream from a young age of being a professional footballer, but I only really started to think that I could have a chance when I came to Aberdeen a couple of years ago. Being around good players and feeling that I could compete at this standard, made me realise I had a chance. Before that at Boys Club level, I never really knew. It was a big step up but I felt that I was dealing with it well. At that point I thought that if I focused then I could push on and hopefully make it to where I want to be.”
Such was the reputation that Kieran was building for himself in youth football, the Dons weren’t the only suitors when it came or him to decide where his future lay.

“There was interest in me from other clubs but I came to Aberdeen last year. They allowed me to stay in school which was a big thing for me and my family at the time. Also I have seen how many players from the Youth Academy have gone on and been involved in first team football, so that was encouraging.

“It meant that last year I was only part-time because I was still at school half the week, then getting the train and travelling up here for a day of training, then playing the games on a Friday and then going back down the road. It was quite challenging doing my school work and also being involved with the U18s, plus it was a very strong 18s squad we had last season so I had to work hard to get into the team.

“I got an A in Maths, English, Biology, Physics and Chemistry at Higher. I got also got all As in advanced Higher Maths, PE and Business, so I have something to fall back on. I will hopefully have a long career in football but I have a strong foundation to go and do whatever else I want to do.”
There was an early Christmas present for Kieran when he came on for Jonny Hayes to make his debut in the 2-0 win over Ross County on December 12th, a game in which he made an immediate impression.

“There were a lot of emotions that day. About half an hour before I came on, the gaffer had gone and told me to warm up because Jonny Hayes had gone down injured and it looked a bad one. All the nerves then kicked in as I was getting ready to come on, but Jonny being Jonny, he got up and a few minutes later was running about the park non-stop a minute later! So I went back up to the stand, a bit disappointed to be honest, but then in the last five minutes of the game, I got the shout again and at that point I knew this was my time.

“I was nervous but as you stand on the touchline, getting the final instruction from the manager, waiting to go on, it is an amazing feeling. I’m not sure you can emulate it anywhere else. It’s where you want to get to, making your debut, something you have dreamed about your whole life.

“You then start thinking about how you can make an impact on the game because you know when you have been given that chance, you have to take it. I just went out and tried to perform my best.

“I made a quick start! I saw the ball break and I am a fast boy so I went for it and lucky enough, I made it just in time. A split second later it could have been the shortest debut in history! After that I enjoyed the experience very much.

“After the game I was so high, I did not really know where I was! It took me a little while to calm down and then phone the parents. When I spoke to them, they were so excited for me, screaming down the phone. Then came all the messages from family members everywhere. The game was replayed on BBC Alba that evening so they got to see it then. My dad said he jumped up when he saw my tackle!”

Kieran’s debut followed hard on the heels of Ryan Duncan’s, his 16 year old housemate.

“There must be something in our food! He’s doing very well. We push each other on. After the Rangers game, he came home and we were sitting together and messages were coming through all night. He was buzzing and I remember sitting there thinking that I wanted that feeling as well. It really pushes you on.

“Being around the first team this season has really helped push me too. I get a lot of advice from the players, especially the ones who play a similar position such as Andy Considine. Joe Lewis has been a big help, but so have all the players. Yes you want to play games and get experience, but I am finding, at this stage of my career, I am learning so much day in day out in training. It is almost doing me more benefit than playing reserves games. I am learning a lot and developing every day, but I know there will become a point when I need games.

“It is hard to describe what it is like walking into Cormack Park every day, especially to start with. I had done nothing much in the game and you’re seeing all these big name players walking in in front of you. It is a “wow” feeling. It has been a very tough year for youth players at all the clubs, so I’m very fortunate to be part of the Cormack Park bubble.

“There’s been a lot of hard work gone into making my debut and then playing again last weekend, but it is a lot harder afterwards to keep up the consistency and the standards needed to really break into the team and get more game time and more minutes under your belt. That is the next step and where I am now. I need to keep working hard and see what I can do this season.”