Fledgling A-League club Western United announced its first NPL signing earlier this week. Exciting Bentleigh Greens winger Kuach ‘Valentino’ Yuel, aged 24, is the first of the anticipated recruitments from the semi-professional ranks.

Steve Horvat, WUFC Director of Football indicated there would be other NPL signings to follow Mr Yuel’s signing.

“Our intention from the outset was to create opportunities for players from the NPL, and we are pleased that Valentino Yuel is our first such signing,” he said.

“Our football department continue to look at games every week and we have no doubt that there will be more announcements like this one in the coming months.

“I would like to thank Bentleigh Greens for their co-operation in the signing of Yuel so that he can continue his dream to play professional football.”

The signing of Yuel means that Greens fans will only get to see Mr Yuel in action in Greens’ colours for a couple of more months before he farewells Kingston Heath, to join Western United for its pre-season. At United he’ll be joined by his current Greens coach John Anastasiadis, who is the assistant coach at Western United.

In an interview on the Bentleigh Greens Facebook page, Mr Yuel said, “ I’d like to say thank you to Bentleigh for providing the atmosphere to be able to showcase myself and obviously my team mates. It’s a team sport. You can’t do anything by yourself.”

He attributed much of his success to quality coaching.

“I am so excited to be signing with Western United Football Club. I thank Bentleigh Greens Soccer Club for their help and especially thank John Anastasiadis for his quality coaching to help my career improve. (He) is a very experienced coach. I still have a lot to learn from him as well,” he said.

“I cannot wait to start training with Western United and meet my new team mates.”

Mr Yuel joined the Greens in the pre-season from South Australian NPL club Adelaide City. The winger’s performances with the Greens this season have caught the eye of many fans, impressing from the very start when he was awarded best afield in the Greens’ Community Shield win over Heidelberg United. Since then he has scored four goals in six league appearances for the Greens and provided numerous assists with his penetrating runs down the right flank.