The life of young Garang Kuol must feel like a rollercoaster ride. Despite being only 18, this young footballer already has a resume many more experienced stars would admire. And it all feels even more surreal if you consider that he was born in Egypt to desperate parents fleeing South Sudan. A few days ago – he became a World Cup player for Australia.A few years ago, 🇦🇺 Garang Kuol and his brother had to wash jerseys and training kits in order to play for Goulburn Valley Suns.Tonight, the teenager born in Egypt to Sudanese parents, becomes the youngest ever Australian player to feature at the #FIFAWorldCup.#TeamAustralia pic.twitter.com/q3HbM0EBwj— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) November 22, 2022 The Aussies fell to a heavy defeat against France despite taking the lead. Still, it’s the match Garang will remember forever as he became the youngest player to play for the Socceroos — the Australian national team — at the World Cup. He achieved the feat at just 18 years and 68 days. He got to see Kylian Mbappe, the player he’s often likened to, in flesh. The occasion made him realize how long the road is in front of him.”They’re 190 cm tall people who are as quick as me, so there was a big difference between me and some of those players. Only hard work will get me to that level. I think it was a good taste to see the level the players are at. Some play in the Premier League, some play in the Champions League, so it was good to get that taste of the level.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6843609##Garang’s family is now living in a tight South Sudanese community in the Australian state of Victoria. The town of Shepparton in the north of the state has around 40 families living there. These days, all they care about is watching one of their own do what he loves – on the biggest stage. Speaking to The Guardian, Kuol’s aunt Agoness revealed what it’s like seeing your kid playing for Australia in the World Cup.”He makes us so happy. Watching him play at the World Cup makes us feel like we can fly. And we’re so happy for his parents, who worked so hard for this. He has always, always loved playing football since he was in kindergarten. But he’s a good boy. He would accompany us to church and always stay with his family.”GARANG KUOL 🇦🇺(2004) IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!pic.twitter.com/P5Q6awQ4rl— Football Report Allez🇸🇳 🕊☮️🌍🌎🌏 #BerhalterOut (@FootballReprt) November 13, 2022 In late September, Kuol signed a pre-contract that will make him a Newcastle United player in January. It was a massive coup for the Magpies to secure the player who was on the radar of Barcelona and various big clubs around Europe. But for the time being, it’s all about the Socceroos. Proud aunt Agoness says that every match is like a party. There will be food and dancing before the game against Tunisia, which begins at 21.00 local time (13.00 EAT), and the community is celebrating no matter the result.The life Kuol is living, after all the hardship his parents went through, surely is something to celebrate.
