• Aphelele Teto grew up in a squatter camp with no roads, but his speed and skill stood out from the start.

• Livingston FC signed him, and now five boys from Carlos Academy will train there every year.

Aphelele Teto’s dream of becoming a professional footballer seemed impossible at first. He grew up in a squatter camp with no proper roads, let alone football fields. But a coach named Carlos Mtshamba saw something special in the boy, and everything changed.

Mtshamba had just started his own football academy, Carlos Soccer Youth Development, when he spotted Teto playing. It took only five minutes to see the boy’s spark. “He was quick, had control and always attacked. Within 10 minutes, he’d scored twice,” said Mtshamba, FarPost reported.

Despite being much shorter than the other kids, Teto danced past defenders like they weren’t there. Mtshamba, who also grew up in tough conditions, felt a connection with him.

Once he brought Teto into the academy, Mtshamba became more than just a coach. “I met his mother. I saw how they lived. I told him it was up to us to change our parents’ lives,” he said.

Teto moved fast through the ranks. Within minutes of a trial, Kaizer Chiefs youth coach Dillon Sheppard wanted him. He later joined Bidvest Wits, then TS Galaxy, and got called up to Bafana Bafana.

Now he’s signed with Livingston FC in Scotland.

“Livingston are even helping him sort out his visa. That shows how much they rate him,” said Mtshamba. The club’s coach, David Martindale, said Teto is a unique talent. “He’s different from any other 20-year-old I’ve seen in Scotland.”

And it’s not just Teto benefiting from the success. The link between Livingston and Carlos Academy is now official. Last year, four boys trained there, and now five will go every year.

Mtshamba hopes that more support from the government and companies can grow the partnership. “We want to get these boys straight to Europe,” he said.

The East London academy now trains 80 boys between the ages of 11 and 19. For them, Teto is proof that anything is possible.

Mtshamba started the academy 11 years ago after being inspired by Pitso Mosimane, his former coach at Santos and Bloemfontein Celtic. He credits Pitso’s discipline and coaching style for showing him the path.

Now, watching his star player prepare for his first season in Scotland, Mtshamba says it’s a proud moment.

“I’m looking forward to moving to Scotland,” said Teto. “It’ll change my life and my family’s life. I hope other boys from the academy follow the same path.”

Pictured above: Aphelele Teto.

Image source: @LiviFCOfficial