‘He believed in me’: Socceroos rookie’s huge praise for ex-Aussie star

Kusini Yengi has paid tribute to former Socceroos striker Carl Veart for his influence in a football journey that has the Porstmouth marksman on the verge of a national team debut in Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh at AAMI Park.

Now Adelaide United’s A-League coach, Veart first guided the fortunes of Yengi. now 24, when the attacker was part of Football South Australia’s National Training Centre (NTC) program.

“He coached me since I was 14 and then when I broke into the (Adelaide) A-League squad, he was there, so having him on the sidelines gave me a lot of confidence,” Yengi said on Tuesday.

“I knew how much he believed in me as a player and he helped me make the next step, (and) the next step, (and) the next step, and then when I was a professional, he was there on the sidelines.”

Yengi, whose father was born in South Sudan, said Veart’s influence also extended across a host of players with African heritage who got their start in the South Australian system.

They include the Toure brothers Al Hassan, Mohamed and Musa, Nestory Irankunda and Yaya Dukuly.

“I think he played a big role in myself and Al Hassan, and a lot of the boys that have come through to become professionals,” said Yengi, who added it was an “honour” to represent the African community in the Australian team.

“Growing up when I was a kid, there wasn’t too many players of African descent coming through in the Socceroos, but lately there’s been more and more.

“Players like Awer Mabil and Thomas Deng are players that have played really well for the Socceroos, have been part of the squad numerous times and they’re boys that I know and boys that I grew up watching, and once I saw them come through, it’s motivating seeing them play.

“If