Aphelele Teto
{{short description|South African footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aphelele Teto
| image =
| fullname = Aphelele Teto
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|6|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Scenery Park, East London, South Africa
| position = Midfielder
| height = 1.65m{{soccerway|aphelele-teto/812228}}
| currentclub = Chippa United
(on loan from Livingston)
| clubnumber = 26
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = TS Galaxy
| years1 = 2022–2023
| clubs1 = TS Galaxy
| caps1 = 18
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2023–
| clubs2 = Livingston
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = → Chippa United (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2025–
| nationalteam1 = South Africa
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 11 June 2025
}}
Aphelele Teto (born 13 June 2003) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chippa United, on loan from {{Scottish football updater|Livingst}} club Livingston.
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.{{cite web|title=South Africa - Premier Division 2023|url=https://www.soccerstats.com/latest.asp?league=southafrica_2023|website=Sunday World}}
He signed for Livingston in August 2023 on a four-year deal, despite him having failed to receive a work permit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66434914|title=Aphelele Teto: Livingston sign TS Galaxy winger despite failure to receive work permit|publisher=BBC|date=8 August 2023}}{{cite web|title=TS Galaxy wonderkid to fly SA flag in Scottish Premiership|url=https://sundayworld.co.za/news/sport/soccer/ts-galaxy-wonderkid-to-fly-sa-flag-in-scottish-premiership/|website=Sunday World|date=13 July 2023}} 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 Egypt, Tunisia or South Africa.{{cite web|title=Livingston boss 'confident' over loan move agreement for Aphelele Teto|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/livingston-boss-confident-over-loan-30887798|website=Daily Record|date=7 September 2023}}{{cite web|title=Livingston boss hails progress of South African youngster as they look to set up loan move
|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/livingston-boss-hails-progress-south-30778951
|website=Daily Record|date=24 August 2023}} Talks took place with Supersport United but ultimately broke down and the player remained in Scotland, playing for Livingston's reserve team.{{cite web|title=REVEALED What's next for Teto after DStv Prem return collapses
|url=https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/sanews/premiership/revealed-whats-next-for-teto-after-dstv-prem-return-collapses-20230927|website=snl24.com|date=27 September 2023}} 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.{{cite web|title=Livingston boss confident South African ace will receive international call - and help club's work permit bid|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/livingston-boss-confident-south-african-31104259|website=Daily Record|date=4 October 2023}}{{cite web|title=SA U-23s bow out of Afcon and Paris Olympics on away goals in Congo|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-03-27-sa-u-23s-bow-out-of-afcon-and-paris-olympics-on-away-goals-in-congo/|website=Times Live|date=27 March 2023}}
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.{{cite web|title= Welcome, Tete Yengi! |url= https://livingstonfc.co.uk/welcome-tete-yengi/ |website=Livingston FC|date=31 December 2023}}
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.{{cite web|title=David Martindale provides update on forgotten star|url=https://plzsoccer.com/football-news/david-martindale-provides-update-on-forgotten-star/|website=PLZ Soccer|date=23 January 2024}} In July 2024, Teto signed for Chippa United on loan.{{cite web|title=Chippa United sign Aphelele Teto from Scottish side Livingston FC|url=https://farpost.co.za/2024/07/07/chippa-united-sign-aphelele-teto-from-scottish-side-livingston-fc/|website=farpost.co.za|date=7 July 2024}}
International career
The midfielder was called up to the South African U-23 squad in September 2022 but did not appear for the team.{{cite web|title=Teto and Mahlangu selected for the SA-Under-23|url=https://tsgalaxyfc.com/teto-and-mahlangu-selected-for-the-sa-under-23/|website=TS Galaxy FC|date=26 September 2022}} He was not selected for the next squad in March 2023.{{cite web|title=Notoane names SA squad for CAF U23 Olympic Qualifiers clash against Congo|url=https://www.safa.net/2023/03/16/notoane-names-sa-squad-for-caf-u23-olympic-qualifiers-clash-against-congo/|website=safa.net|date=16 March 2022}}
Teto made his South Africa first team debut in March 2025 against Egypt.{{cite web|title=Aphelele Teto gets closer to Scottish dream following CHAN chance|url=https://farpost.co.za/2025/04/28/aphelele-teto-gets-closer-to-scottish-dream-following-chan-chance/|website=farpost.co.za|date=28 April 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Chippa United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teto, Aphelele}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:South African men's soccer players
Category:TS Galaxy F.C. players
Category:Livingston F.C. players
Category:Chippa United F.C. players
Category:South African Premier Division players
Category:South African expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Scotland