Irakoze Donasiyano

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Irakoze Donasiyano

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|2|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kigoma Region, Tanzania

| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}

| position = Winger, midfielder, fullback

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Roanoke Star SC

| collegeyears1 = 2017–2020

| college1 = Virginia Cavaliers

| collegecaps1 = 65

| collegegoals1 = 5

| years1 = 2019

| clubs1 = Daytona Rush

| caps1 = 8

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2021–2022

| clubs2 = Nashville SC

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2021

| clubs3 = → OKC Energy (loan)

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2022

| clubs4 = → Phoenix Rising (loan)

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2023–2024

| clubs5 = Oakland Roots

| caps5 = 43

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2022–

| nationalteam1 = Burundi

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 30 March 2025

| nationalteam-update = 06:28, 20 November 2022 (UTC)

}}

Irakoze Donasiyano (born 3 February 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Born in Tanzania, he plays for the Burundi national team.

Career

=Youth=

Donasiyano played soccer at Patrick Henry High School, scoring 65 goals and tallying 30 assists in 69 games. During his high school career, he was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, earned back-to-back All-Region and All-State honors in 2016 and 2017, and was named the 2017 Conference 16 and 5A North Region Player of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://virginiasports.com/player/irakoze-donasiyano/|title=Irakoze Donasiyano|date=April 28, 2020|website=Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site}} He also played club soccer with local side Roanoke Star Soccer Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nashvillesc/2021/01/22/nashville-sc-irakoze-donasiyano-facts-mls-superdraft-2021/6670460002/|title=5 things to know about Nashville SC's top 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick Irakoze Donasiyano|first=Drake|last=Hills|website=The Tennessean}}

=College & Amateur=

In 2017, Donasiyano attended the University of Virginia to play college soccer. In four seasons with the Cavaliers, included a truncated 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Donasiyano made 65 appearances, scoring 5 goals and tallying 8 assists. In 2019, he was named a Third Team All-ACC selection. During his time at college, he played in multiple positions, including as a winger, central midfielder, and as either a fullback or wingback.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nashvillesc/2021/05/01/irakoze-donasiyano-nashville-sc-rookie-mls-virginia-soccer/4875900001/|title=Setting expectations for Nashville SC rookie Irakoze Donasiyano in 2021|first=Drake|last=Hills|website=The Tennessean}}

Whilst at college, Donasiyano also appeared for USL League Two side Daytona Rush SC during their 2019 season, scoring 2 goals in 8 regular season games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/32579161|title=Daytona Rush SC - 2019 Regular Season - Roster - #6 - Irakoze Donasiyano -|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}

=Professional=

On 21 January 2021, Donasiyano was selected 20th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Nashville SC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-sc-selects-five-players-2021-mls-superdraft-presented-adidas-hard-rock|title=Nashville SC selects five players in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas, from Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville|first=Nashville|last=SC|website=Nashville SC}} He officially signed with the MLS club on 28 April.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-signs-midfielder-irakoze-donasiyano|title=Nashville Soccer Club Signs Midfielder Irakoze Donasiyano|first=Nashville|last=SC|website=Nashville SC}}

Donasiyano made his professional debut on June 18, 2021, appearing as a 63rd-minute substitute during a 2–0 loss at New York Red Bulls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2021/matches/rbnyvsnsh-06-18-2021/|title=RBNYvsNSH 06-18-2021 | MLSsoccer.com|website=mlssoccer}}

On 14 August 2021, Donasiyano joined USL Championship side OKC Energy on loan for the remainder of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.energyfc.com/news_article/show/1178639|title = Energy Fc Acquires Midfielder Irakoze Donasiyano on Loan from Nashville Sc|date = August 14, 2021}}

Donasiyano was loaned to Phoenix Rising FC on 3 June 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-loans-midfielder-irakoze-donasiyano-to-phoenix-rising-fc|title = Nashville Soccer Club Loans Midfielder Irakoze Donasiyano To Phoenix Rising FC|publisher=Nashville SC Communications |date = June 3, 2021}}

Following the 2022 season, his contract option was declined by Nashville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-announces-roster-status-ahead-of-the-2023-season|title=Nashville Soccer Club Announces Roster Status Ahead of the 2023 Season|first=Nashville|last=SC|website=Nashville SC}} Donasiyano signed with USL Championship side Oakland Roots on 31 January 2023.{{cite web |title=OAKLAND ROOTS SPORTS CLUB SIGN BURUNDI NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER IRAKOZE DONASIYANO |url=https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/news/2023/01/31/oakland-roots-sports-club-sign-burundi-national-team-member-irakoze-donasiyano/ |website=OaklandRootsSC.com |publisher=Oakland Roots |access-date=2 February 2023}}

International career

Donasiyano is of Burundian descent, and was called up to the Burundi national team for a set of friendlies in November 2022.{{cite web | url=https://rwanda-football.com/ndizeye-samuel-wari-utegerejwe-mu-mavubi-yahamagawe-mu-intamba-mu-rugamba/ | title=Ndizeye Samuel wari utegerejwe mu Mavubi, yahamagawe mu Intamba mu rugamba | Football Live Scores | date=5 November 2022 }} He debuted with them in a friendly 4–0 loss to Ivory Coast on 16 November 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/ivory-coast-vs-burundi/live/478940|title=%competition_name% (Sky Sports)|website=Sky Sports}}

Personal

Born to a Burundian family in Muyovozi refugee camp in Tanzania’s Kigoma Region, Donasiyano immigrated with his family from Tanzania to the United States in 2007. He became a United States citizen in January 2020.