Kenny Athiu Explained

Kenny Athiu
Fullname:Kenjok Athiu
Birth Date:5 August 1992
Birth Place:Juba, Sudan (now South Sudan)
Height:[1]
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Dandenong City
Clubnumber:9
Youthyears1:2006–2010
Youthclubs1:South Springvale
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:South Springvale
Caps1:36
Goals1:17
Years2:2012
Clubs2:Springvale White Eagles
Caps2:9
Goals2:2
Years3:2012–2014
Clubs3:Box Hill United
Caps3:40
Goals3:30
Years4:2014-2017
Clubs4:Heidelberg United
Caps4:74
Goals4:43
Years5:2017–2018
Clubs5:Melbourne Victory (loan)
Caps5:4
Goals5:1
Years6:2018–2020
Clubs6:Melbourne Victory
Caps6:32
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–2022
Clubs7:Sri Pahang
Caps7:11
Goals7:4
Years8:2022
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:2022
Clubs9:Essendon Royals
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Years10:2023
Clubs10:Heidelberg United
Caps10:16
Goals10:1
Years11:2024–
Clubs11:Dandenong City
Goals11:0
Caps11:2
Nationalyears1:2019–
Nationalteam1:South Sudan
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:19 February 2024
Nationalteam-Update:17 November 2019

Kenjok "Kenny" Athiu (born 5 August 1992) is a South Sudanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for National Premier Leagues Victoria club Dandenong City and the South Sudan national football team.[2]

Club career

Youth

Athiu joined South Springvale SC in 2006 at 14 years of age, and became a member of the first team three years later.[3] In 2012, Athiu signed a short term deal with rivals Springvale White Eagles, with the success from the Springvale based clubs later earning him a deal with the more prominent Victorian State League side Box Hill United in the same year. Following more success, in 2014 Athiu signed for Heidelberg United in the NPL Victoria.

Melbourne Victory

After initially being linked with a move to Perth Glory,[4] Athiu signed his first professional contract with Melbourne Victory in October 2017 on a season-long loan from Heidelberg United.[5] Victory coach Kevin Muscat initially stated that it would be some time before Athiu would make the first team due to injury and fitness concerns.[6] Nevertheless, Athiu made his debut for the club as a substitute in a draw with Western Sydney Wanderers on 6 November after a number of Melbourne's attacking players were unavailable for the game.[7] On 18 June 2018, Athiu signed a new two-year contract with Melbourne Victory.[8] On 28 August 2020, Melbourne Victory announced that Athiu would not be receiving a new contract.[9]

International career

Athiu was eligible to represent his nation of birth of South Sudan or his country of residence in Australia prior to making his competitive debut for South Sudan against Equatorial Guinea on 4 September 2019 in the first leg of the first round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Athiu was substituted on David Majak Chan at the 54th minute and assisted in the equalizing goal of the eventual 1–1 draw.[10] [11] [12] [13]

Personal life

Athiu was born in Sudan but left with his family as a refugee in the Second Sudanese Civil War, first to Kenya (aged four) and then to Australia (aged eleven).[14] He initially settled in Keysborough, before moving to Noble Park and then Narre Warren.[15]

Athiu has seven siblings, and is good friends with former teammate Thomas Deng, with both their families having known each other since they were children.[16]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Melbourne Victory2017–18Y-League1010
2017–18A-League41225120134
2018–19140105020220
2019–20130002000150
Career total31 1 3 2 11 1 4 0 51 4

Footnotes

A. Includes appearances in the FFA Cup.

B. Includes appearances in the AFC Champions League.

C. Includes appearances in the A-League finals.

Honours

Club

Heidelberg United
Melbourne Victory

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kenny Athiu . Melbourne Victory FC . 21 November 2019 .
  2. Web site: Uhe . Marcus . City's back and talking bold . Star Journal . 9 February 2024 . 10 February 2024.
  3. News: Stogiannou. George. South Springvale revels in the rise of former junior Kenny Athiu. Herald Sun. 31 October 2017. News Corp. 4 February 2018.
  4. News: Mitchell. Tim. Ken Athiu set for A-League deal with Perth Glory after prolific NPL season at Heidelberg United. Herald Sun. 8 October 2017. News Corp. 4 February 2018.
  5. Victory confirm Athiu signing. FourFourTwo. 13 October 2017. 7 November 2017.
  6. Muscat: We're easing Kenny into it. FourFourTwo. 19 October 2017. 7 November 2017. Tito, Clement. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114641/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/muscat-were-easing-kenny-into-it-475732. dead.
  7. King Kenny 'buzzing' but Muscat urges patience. Tito, Clement. FourFourTwo. 7 November 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114611/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/king-kenny-buzzing-but-muscat-urges-patience-477012. dead.
  8. Web site: Athiu signs two year deal. Melbourne Victory. 18 June 2018.
  9. Web site: Victory launch massive cleanout as another four players leave. 2020-08-29. FTBL.
  10. Web site: A-League news: Melbourne Victory striker Kenny Athiu makes surprise international debut for South Sudan in World Cup qualifier Goal.com.
  11. Web site: Australian links aplenty as South Sudan open 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign | Daily Football Show . 6 September 2019 . 6 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190906012932/https://dailyfootballshow.com/australian-links-aplenty-as-south-sudan-open-2022-world-cup-qualifying-campaign/ . dead .
  12. Web site: News.
  13. Web site: Liberia win on opening day of African World Cup qualifiers. 4 September 2019.
  14. From refugee to Warrior king. FourFourTwo. 3 September 2016. 7 November 2017. Stamocostas, Con. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114539/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/from-refugee-to-warrior-king--436060. dead.
  15. News: Windley. Matt. Heidelberg striker Ken Athiu keeping a level head after his winning FFA Cup goal against Perth Glory. Herald Sun. 2 August 2017. News Corp. 4 February 2018.
  16. Tito. Clement. DENG EASES A-LEAGUE TRANSITION FOR 'KING KENNY'. FourFourTwo. 4 February 2018. 4 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180204183427/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/deng-eases-a-league-transition-for-king-kenny-478334. dead.