Livingston's Tete Yengi goes from playing in a Champions League final to World Cup with Australia

Tete Yengi admits struggling to take in a whirlwind six months in football in which he has been loaned out by Livingston, played in a Champions League final and earned a World Cup call-up. The giant striker is with the Australia squad in America preparing for the biggest tournament on earth despite being an uncapped new boy in the Socceroos camp.

Yengi made the squad ahead of established names like the Hibs forward Martin Boyle. He left Livingston on loan in January with the club fighting relegation from the Scottish Premiership and joined Japanese side Machida Zelvia. They reached the Asian Champions League final in April, only to lose out to Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia. Yengi was up against the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney in that match and will face the biggest names in the game if he features at the World Cup.

“I don’t know if it’s really sunk in yet. There are so many great players who have played for this country. Some of them are my idols,” he admitted. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity. Hopefully I can get on the pitch. I’m still uncapped but it’s amazing that my first call-up has come at a World Cup. Hopefully, I can get on the pitch and show what I can do. It’s a great feeling, first of all, to be here. The coach [Tony Popovic] has put faith in me in selecting me. I’m grateful for the opportunity. Hopefully I can show myself in training and get the opportunity to play.

“There are guys here like Matty Ryan, Jackson Irvine, Awer Mabil. He’s someone I’ve watched since I was really young at Adelaide United. To be here with him, sharing the pitch with him - with all of them, really - there are so many. Matthew Leckie as well. These players have been to many World Cups. I’m just trying to take as much information as I can from them on the pitch and off the pitch - just anything to help build myself, get the experience and hopefully bring it on to the pitch.”

Yengi, 25, played in front of a 60,000 crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah as Al-Ahli secured the Champions League with a 1-0 victory. “It was a crazy game. The atmosphere was ridiculous. I haven’t seen that before,” he recalled. “Hopefully the games here will be a bit like that. It was a good tournament, I enjoyed myself and I learned a lot of things from playing there. I’m looking forward to continuing to get these experiences.

“Football is a journey. Only some players stay at one club. I’ve had the opportunity to move around to numerous clubs and countries and I’m grateful for that experience. It has helped me as a player and as a person. I’ve taken bits from everywhere I’ve been, put that together and it’s made me who I am today.

“Football is crazy. A lot can happen in six months. I was enjoying my time in Scotland, even though things weren’t going so well. I was still playing week in and week out. Then I got the call from Japan. I thought it was an opportunity I couldn’t let go so I took it and thankfully it has worked out. The people over there are great - my team-mates and my coaches. I’m really enjoying it. Who knows what’s going to happen in the future but my focus is here now with the national team.”

Australia are in World Cup Group D alongside hosts USA, Turkiye and Paraguay. His brother, Kusini, is also on loan in Japan from Scottish club Aberdeen. He holds 11 caps for the Socceroos but will now join his family in supporting his brother. “They were very excited. My brother has been here before. Not to a World Cup but with the national team. He was very excited for me,” said Yengi.

“He is probably a bit disappointed with himself, not getting the opportunity, but I’m here on his behalf. I’m looking forward to enjoying my time here and hopefully playing in my first World Cup. My Mum and my Dad as well, everyone is really happy. It’s everyone’s dream to come to the World Cup. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be here through his injuries. I would have liked to be here with him. Maybe the next one. Let’s see.”

Australia are targeting a knockout place but know they face a difficult group in which the USA are a big attraction. “Everyone dreams of playing in games like that,” said Yengi. “When the crowd is against you, it gives you that motivation and extra boost. We will use that for ourselves. Hopefully we can win. That’s the main objective - to win and get out of the group.”

The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly