Aphelele Teto

Aphelele Teto

Personal information
Full name	Aphelele Teto
Date of birth	(2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 (age 20)
Place of birth	South Africa
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Livingston
Number	17
Youth career
	TS Galaxy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	TS Galaxy	18	(0)
2023–	Livingston	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:52, 2 April 2024 (UTC)

Aphelele Teto (born 13 June 2003) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Livingston. ^[1]

Playing career

Teto started his career as a youth player at TS Galaxy. He signed a professional contract with the club in 2022 and made 12 appearances for the first team, nine of them starts, as they finished 10th in the Premier Soccer League. ^[2]

He signed for Livingston in August 2023 on a four-year deal, despite him having failed to receive a work permit. ^[3] Manager David Martindale clarified in September that part of the transfer agreement was that TS Galaxy would continue to pay Teto's wages until he gained a work permit to play for Livingston, and the club would attempt to loan Teto to a club in Africa (specifically Egypt, Tunisia or South Africa). ^{[4] [5]} Talks took place with Supersport United but ultimately broke down and the player remained in Scotland, playing for Livingston's reserve team. ^[6] Martindale stated that he expected Teto to be awarded a governing body endorsement, which would allow him to gain a UK work permit, once he was called up to the South Africa U-23 squad - this despite them having not played since March 2023 and having no scheduled fixtures after failing to qualify for the 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations or 2024 Olympics. ^{[7] [8]}

On 31 December 2023 Livingston announced the signing of Tete Yengi and allocated him the number 17 shirt which had previously been given to Teto for the season, although this was later retracted and Yengi given the 33 shirt. ^[9]

Martindale provided an update on 22 January 2024, confirming that Teto remained unable to feature for Livingston and had left the UK following the expiration of a tourist visa. It was also stated that the club was still trying to secure a loan move within Europe for the player. ^[10]

International career

The midfielder was called up to the South African U-23 squad in September 2022 but did not appear for the team. ^[11] He was not selected for the next squad in March 2023. ^[12]

References

1. "Aphelele Teto: Livingston sign TS Galaxy winger despite failure to receive work permit". BBC. 8 August 2023.
2. "South Africa - Premier Division 2023". Sunday World.
3. "TS Galaxy wonderkid to fly SA flag in Scottish Premiership". Sunday World. 13 July 2023.
4. "Livingston boss 'confident' over loan move agreement for Aphelele Teto". Daily Record. 7 September 2023.
5. "Livingston boss hails progress of South African youngster as they look to set up loan move". Daily Record. 24 August 2023.
6. "REVEALED What's next for Teto after DStv Prem return collapses". snl24.com. 27 September 2023.
7. "Livingston boss confident South African ace will receive international call - and help club's work permit bid". Daily Record. 4 October 2023.
8. "SA U-23s bow out of Afcon and Paris Olympics on away goals in Congo". Times Live. 27 March 2023.
9. "Welcome, Tete Yengi!". Livingston FC. 31 December 2023.
10. "David Martindale provides update on forgotten star". PLZ Soccer. 23 January 2024.
11. "Teto and Mahlangu selected for the SA-Under-23". TS Galaxy FC. 26 September 2022.
12. "Notoane names SA squad for CAF U23 Olympic Qualifiers clash against Congo". safa.net. 16 March 2022.