Civil war to refugee camp to career in Hong Kong for South Sudanese footballer
Valentino Yuel fled a war to settle in Australia, before football took him to Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Libya and finally Hong Kong
It was only after his family were granted permission to start a new life in Australia that footballer Valentino Yuel realised there was a world beyond the Kenyan refugee camp where he spent his first 11 years.
Yuel, 31, who joined Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern District in October, was born in 1994 to South Sudanese parents who had fled the deadly civil war in their homeland.
“You’re boxed in there, you don’t know any different,” said Yuel, who has five brothers and one sister.
“It’s only as you get older, you realise how challenging it was. We had no real foundation; you’re just taking refuge as a family that fled the war.
“My dad was a soldier and was wounded in the war, so he had to find other means to provide. He had a shop and worked very hard. I now understand the challenge my parents had to provide food and an education for seven children.”
Yuel’s day would start with his mum and dad “finding me breakfast”. An early school day was followed by kicking a ball with friends until daylight expired.