Ata Inia

Ata Jesse "AJ" Inia (born 25 April 2000) is a Tongan footballer who currently plays for Navy of the Thai League 3.

Ata "AJ" Inia
Personal information
Full name Ata Jesse Inia
Date of birth (2000-04-25) 25 April 2000
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1+12 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Navy
Number 11
Youth career
2015–2017 Werribee City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Melbourne Knights 27 (10)
2020 Caroline Springs George Cross 0 (0)
2020–2021 Angkor Tiger 19 (2)
2021–2022 Trang 4 (2)
2022 Caroline Springs George Cross
2023– Navy 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 March 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 December 2021

Upon joining Angkor Tiger of the Cambodian Premier League in 2020, Inia became Tonga's first-ever professional footballer. [1]

Club career

Inia played for the Melbourne Knights of Australia's NPL Victoria from 2018.[1][2] He competed with the team in the 2019 FFA Cup, including a Round of 32 match against Adelaide United of the A-League.[3] In 2019, Star Weekly noted that "a delicious cross" by Inia resulting in a goal "provided a glimpse into Inia's bright future".[4][5][6]

Ata Inia signed with Angkor Tiger of the Cambodian Premier League at the end of 2020 after having tested with the club, the Angkor Tiger’s rushed to secure the signature of the “lightning fast Tongan winger” making him Tonga's first-ever professional footballer.[7][1] In June 2021, Khmer Times reported that "Tongan standout Inia" was part of the club's "talented lineup".[8] The publication also reported that Inia was also the first player of Tongan descent to play in the Kingdom" of Cambodia.[9]

On July 12, 2021, Inia scored his first goal in Cambodia, playing in the position of striker, as Angkor Tiger recorded its sixth straight win in the MCL.[9] Inia equalized in a match against Boeung Ket Angkor FC on November 13, 2021, which ended 1–1.[10]

In December 2021, Inia decided to move his talents to the Thai League, joining Trang FC of the Thai League 3 in a direct transfer from the Angkor Tiger. [11] In late February 2022 he re-joined Caroline Springs George Cross FC of the Victorian State League 1.[12] That season he scored one goal in the league.[13]

International career

Born in Melbourne, Australia,[14] Inia was a candidate for the Australia under-23 team for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship after representing them in U-18 level, but withdrew due to a change of heart.[1] He later expressed keen interest in representing the homeland of his father and grand parents, stating he would like to play with Tonga at senior level.[7]

Inia has not yet featured for any Tongan national side.[15]

References

  1. Rodrigues T. Senase, Jose (28 December 2020). "Tonga's first professional footballer joins Angkor Tiger". Khmer Times. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  2. "Melbourne Knights head up the table". Star Weekly. Brimbank & North West. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  3. "Confirmed squads for FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 Match Day 3". Football Australia. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. Jenkinson, Lance (29 July 2019). "Sore point for Melbourne Knights". Star Weekly. Brimbank & North West. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  5. "AJ Inia: I am keen on playing for Tonga". Oceania Football Center. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  6. "គ្រូបង្វិកក្លិបអង្គរថាយហ្គ័រ ដាក់ការរំពឹងខ្ពស់លើកីឡាករវ័យក្មេងថ្មី Ata (AJ) Inia". SBM News (in Khmer). Cambodia. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  7. "Ata – Tonga's First Professional Soccer Player". Matangi Tonga. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. Rodrigues T. Senase, Jose (8 June 2021). "Angkor Tiger hires new assistant coach". Khmer Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  9. Rodrigues T. Senase, Jose (13 July 2021). "MCL: Angkor Tiger nails 6th straight win". Khmer Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  10. "2021". Boeung Ket Football Club. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  11. "Trang FC photo". Trang FC. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  12. "2022 ITC CLEARANCES" (PDF). Football Victoria. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  13. "2022 MEN'S STATE LEAGUE TOP GOALSCORERS" (PDF). Football Victoria. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  14. Rodriguez T. Senase, Jose (17 February 2021). "Ata Inia: Tonga's first professional footballer readies for Cambodia debut". Khmer Times. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  15. Bjerkevoll, Ola (29 December 2020). "Tongan heritage player joins Cambodian team". Football Oceania. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
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