Kuol brothers Garang, Alou and Teng continue to do Shepparton proud on the big stage.
Shepparton’s Teng Kuol became the second sibling from the brood to achieve success on the international stage, as he netted on his senior debut for South Sudan.
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Back in 2022, brother Garang Kuol made history when he became the youngest player to play in the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup since the legendary Pele back in 1958.
At the tender age of 18 years and 79 days, the teenager from the Goulburn Valley made headlines across the globe as he lit up Qatar with a cameo for Australia in a 2-1 loss against eventual champions Argentina.
The current Sparta Prague star, who represented Shepparton SC and the GV Suns in his youth, very nearly forced extra-time in the Round of 16 tie but saw a last-minute one-on-one effort denied by Emiliano Martinez.
Earlier in the tournament, the forward had become the youngest player to ever appear for the Socceroos at a FIFA World Cup when he came on as a second-half substitute in his country’s opener against France.
Nearly four years on from Garang’s memorable star turn in Qatar, elder sibling Teng has become the latest member of the family to take the international scene by storm.
This time, he was given the call-up to represent South Sudan ahead of a clash with Djibouti in the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Preliminary Round.
His call-up represented a major landmark in the family’s compelling story - with this turn of events proving to a a real full-circle moment for the talented forward, who left the country at the age of just nine months.
More than two decades ago, the Kuols departed the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State-Aweil region of Sudan for Cairo, Egypt amid civil unrest - before embarking on a new life in Shepparton in 2005.
Accepting the invitation to play for the nation over 20 years later, Teng did not disappoint either as he made an instant impact on proceedings by scoring the opener in a convincing 4-0 victory.
Having made the trip to Juba for the first leg of the tie, Teng looked very much at ease at international level, taking just 31 minutes to open his account at the South Sudanese national stadium.
Shepparton’s Teng Kuol is the latest member of his family to find international success.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The centre-forward, who plays in the NPL NSW with Marconi Stallions at club level, took his goal well and demonstrated his ruthlessness with a smart finish at the back post following a searching ball into the box.
He is experiencing something of a purple patch in his career currently, having impressed since his move to the Stallions from Sydney Olympic in January - having notched up three goals in six NPL NSW outings so far.
Speaking to the Shepparton News, Teng expressed his pride as he became the latest member of the Kuol brood to make the grade on the grand stage.
“It was a pure feeling of elation, just to make my debut and see my family all very proud - I’d been imagining it for so long,” he said.
“I was in touch and I’d been monitored [by South Sudan] for a while, when the call-up finalised I honestly couldn’t wait to go for starters.
“I feel like it didn’t hit until I was back on home soil and wearing the kit and singing the anthem.
“I hadn’t been home for 15 or 16 years so to see family I haven’t seen for a long time and meet new ones and see the country again it was quite the journey.”
Describing his feelings after netting at the first time of asking on his international bow, it was clear that the youngster was still on cloud nine.
““It was quite emotional, it meant so much,” he said.
“It was at the deadlock so to score, I was almost in disbelief and shock.
“In terms of playing, I felt ready and I never felt out of place - so, I felt really prepared.”
Alongside five-time Australian international Garang and newly capped South Sudan star Teng, the family also boasts fellow professional soccer player in Alou Kuol - who has represented Australia at Under-23 level on 14 occasions.
At club level, he has also played for the A-League’s Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers, alongside Germany Bundesliga giants Stuttgart.
The striker also explained how mum Antonita and dad Mawien managed to inspire three of her sons to successfully build professional careers in the game.
“My mother is very faithful and pushed us hard to follow in Christ and stay in church and my father was stoic and working two three jobs at a time to support the family,” he said.
“So seeing that led me, Alou and Garang on the path of doing what we wanted to do in our football - which was always number one for us.
“Having those role models was what made everything happen for us.”
“It was interesting because my parents played the biggest role in us following football and following our passions, it was almost the perfect synergy between my mother and father.”
“I feel it’s a responsibility when you’re progressing in your career to be a role model but it’s not a burden.”
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