World

Fewer than two years in the past, Richard Kone was enjoying within the ninth tier of English soccer. Now he’s an Ivory Coast worldwide.

The Queens Park Rangers striker’s rise to the highest is made all of the extra exceptional by the actual fact he was homeless on the age of 16.

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In 2019, Kone was simply attempting to outlive on the streets of Abidjan.

If chosen for the nationwide group once more in the summertime, he can be enjoying on the 2026 World Cup in america, Canada and Mexico.

From homelessness to his first worldwide cap by way of step 5 of non-league soccer, successful League One participant of the 12 months and shifting to the Championship, the 22-year-old’s journey up to now has been unbelievable.

The turning level

Richard Kone’s rise to the highest began when he performed on the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff in 2019, aged simply 16 [Homeless World Cup Foundation]

“It’s terribly troublesome being homeless in my nation,” Kone stated of sleeping tough in Abidjan, a metropolis on the south coast of Ivory Coast.

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“Some folks will not speak with you once you attempt to ask for somewhat little bit of assist or somewhat bit of cash.”

However one good friend did ultimately assist Kone by recognising his potential and introducing him to the president of Ivory Coast’s avenue soccer initiative known as Do not Overlook Them Affiliation.

After working onerous and coaching day by day, it in the end led to Kone’s choice to characterize his nation on the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff in 2019.

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The event within the UK was the primary time he had left the nation, not to mention flown on a airplane.

It will show to be the watershed second in Kone’s soccer profession.

Probability encounter will get the ball rolling

Richard Kone was noticed enjoying soccer on his personal earlier than being requested to signal for non-league membership Athletic Newham [Athletic Newham FC]

Following the Homeless World Cup, a 16-year-old Kone moved to Hackney in east London.

And it was there {that a} purely likelihood encounter would lead him to signal for non-league aspect Athletic Newham within the Jap Counties League Division One South – the tenth tier of the English soccer pyramid.

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“Richard Kone’s story with Athletic Newham started in essentially the most sudden of locations… Hackney Marshes,” Athletic Newham chairman Kennedy Tavares advised BBC Sport.

“He was there enjoying soccer on his personal after I seen him. One thing about Richard stood out instantly.

“I invited him to return and practice with the group and from that second we by no means seemed again. What adopted was an unbelievable spell on the membership.”

Kone immediately hit the bottom operating with a hat-trick on his debut towards Hearth United in September 2019.

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“It was the right introduction to a participant who would go on to outline an period for us,” stated Tavares.

Richard Kone, pictured again left, scored 125 objectives in 148 video games for Athletic Newham between 2019 and 2023 [Athletic Newham]

Kone went on to attain 25 objectives in 40 video games throughout all competitions in his first two seasons, serving to Athletic Newham win promotion to the Essex Senior League in 2021.

His goalscoring prowess continued to enhance, netting 82 occasions in 90 video games throughout the next two seasons.

By the tip of the 2022-23 marketing campaign, skilled golf equipment could not assist however rise up and take discover of Kone’s prolific ending potential.

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That summer time, League One membership Wycombe Wanderers took Kone on an prolonged trial.

He bagged an extra 18 objectives in 18 video games for Athletic Newham within the months that adopted and in January 2024, Kone aged 20.

The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past.

And Kone fairly actually made historical past in his first full season at Wycombe as he scored the membership’s fastest-ever EFL hat-trick inside 9 minutes in a in October 2024.

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Kone ended final season with 21 objectives in all competitions, together with 18 league objectives and three assists, as Wycombe reached the play-off semi-finals.

‘I would not have considered this two years in the past’

Kone scooped each League One participant and younger participant of the 12 months awards for 2024-25 [Rex Features]

His exploits noticed him win each League One participant and younger participant of the season for 2024-25 at , in addition to being named within the group of the season.

He was additionally later named the PFA League One participant of the 12 months in August.

“It is an unbelievable achievement,” Kone advised BBC Sport after the EFL Awards in April this 12 months.

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“I would not have considered this two years in the past and to be standing right here successful not one however two awards and to be within the group of the season is simply wonderful.

“I am actually pleased with myself. I’m simply having fun with the second.”

‘Humble… and a really spectacular goalscorer’

Richard Kone is the fifth main goalscorer throughout the EFL for the reason that begin of the 2024-25 season with 22 [Getty Images]

Kone’s rise to turn out to be probably the most sought-after strikers within the EFL was described as “nothing wanting exceptional” by BBC Three Counties Radio commentator Sam Avery.

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“For somebody who was introduced in as an unknown amount and from the ninth tier, Kone rapidly established himself as an necessary participant and really spectacular goalscorer,” Avery stated.

“He was extraordinarily humble throughout his time at Wycombe, even when the highlight was on him, taking every thing in his stride and displaying maturity past his years.”

It appears Kone’s character is one thing that has by no means wavered all through his profession up to now, no matter the place he’s enjoying his soccer.

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“Richard was the kind of participant who merely cherished the sport,” stated Tavares.

“At all times wanting to be taught, all the time open to recommendation – not simply from coaches, however from anybody across the membership. His perspective, starvation and humility made him a pleasure to work with.”

QPR transfer and Ivory Coast debut

A number of Championship golf equipment have been linked with Kone following a wonderful 18 months at Wycombe and in August, it was .

As has been the case all through Kone’s rollercoaster journey over the previous two years, one other milestone – and maybe the most important of all of them – was simply across the nook.

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His first Ivory Coast senior call-up and debut.

Three months on from becoming a member of the Hoops, Kone obtained the decision each participant desires of and made his first worldwide look as a 62nd-minute substitute in a 2-0 pleasant win towards Oman in Al-Seeb on 18 November.

“That is what I am enjoying soccer for, to characterize my nation at worldwide degree,” Kone after signing for QPR.

“Afcon, possibly the World Cup… that is why I’m all the time combating, attempting to be the very best so I can get a call-up.”

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Tavares stated everybody at Athletic Newham “all the time knew Kone had one thing particular”.

“His progress is not any shock to those that noticed him day by day and ultimately he has earned the chance he deserved,” he added.

“A exceptional journey and one we’re proud to have been a part of.”

Kone has scored 4 objectives in 15 Championship video games up to now for QPR [Getty Images]

Kone nonetheless hasn’t forgotten the place it began for him on the Homeless World Cup six years in the past and stated enjoying on the occasion was “life-changing”.

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“It gave me the platform to develop and set me on the profession path to the place I’m as we speak,” he stated.

Homeless World Cup organisers stated they’ve “watched with huge delight” as Kone has risen from non-league to turn out to be a global.

“Richard’s story reveals the true potential of each single participant who comes by way of our event, that with alternative, assist and perception, extraordinary issues can occur,” stated spokesperson Matthew Williams.

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“Richard embodies the spirit of the Homeless World Cup and his success is a testomony to the life-changing influence soccer can have.”

Whereas on the event in 2019, Kone had stated want to return to high school and “possibly turn out to be a lawyer or physician”.

Now the most important stage in world soccer may await him in seven months’ time.