Chippa United midfielder Aphelele Teto is getting closer to achieving his dream of playing in Scotland with another call-up to the Bafana Bafana national team.
Teto debuted for the national team in the previous round of the CHAN qualifiers against Egypt.
The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Chippa from Livingston FC, a club in Scotland. He returned to the Betway Premiership due to delays in obtaining a work permit.
According to the Scottish FA, a foreign player seeking a work permit in Scotland typically must have a certain percentage of national team caps. Their national association must be at or above a specific FIFA World ranking.
If a player does not meet the automatic criteria, the club may appeal to an Exceptions Panel, which will evaluate the player’s overall experience and value.
Teto penned a four-year contract in August 2023, completing his transfer from TS Galaxy. Since returning to South Africa and joining Chippa, he has made 14 appearances across all competitions, including the Betway Premiership, Carling Knockout Cup, and Nedbank Cup.
Chippa coach Thabo September has previously stated that the club supports Teto in his quest for a place on the South Africa Under-23 team.
WHAT BAFANA BAFANA CHAN CALL-UP MEANS FOR APHELELE TETO’S VISA APPLICATION
“I think the most important thing for him before he returns to Scotland is to try to get into the U-23,” September said a few months ago. “But of course, our national team, not many games happening at that level.
“The reason he came back for a loan was that they needed him to be an international player, to play, to have a cap. So, we’re pushing that side that he performs well and gets the recognition from the national team coaches.”
Having recently played for the senior national team, his international recognition greatly enhances his chances of securing a work permit when he returns to his parent club in Scotland.
Teto is a remarkable talent who began his journey in the Carlos Soccer Youth Development programme in East London. He later joined the Bidvest Wits juniors and TS Galaxy. The Scottish side’s coach, David Martindale, has consistently communicated with academy founder Carlos Mtshamba regarding the player’s progress.
Meanwhile, coach Molefi Ntseki has once again selected him for the two-legged CHAN qualifier against Malawi, scheduled for early next month. Bafana will face The Flames on Saturday, May 3, for the first leg, before hosting them a week later on Sunday, May 11.
Ntseki has also retained Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Neo Maema, Jody February and Terrence Mashego. He has also called Kaizer Chiefs’ duo of Tebogo Potsane and Samkelo Zwane.
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