{{short description|Australian soccer player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ata "AJ" Inia | image = | caption = | fullname = Ata Jesse Inia | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|04|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Australia | height = {{height|m=1.87}} | currentclub = Sisaket United | clubnumber = 10 | position = Winger | youthyears1 = 2015–2017 | youthclubs1 = Werribee City | years1 = 2018–2019 | clubs1 = Melbourne Knights | caps1 = 27 | goals1 = 10 | years2 = 2020 | clubs2 = Caroline Springs George Cross | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2020–2021 | clubs3 = Angkor Tiger | caps3 = 19 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2021–2022 | clubs4 = Trang | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2022 | clubs5 = Caroline Springs George Cross | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2023 | clubs6 = Navy | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 4 | years7 = 2023 | clubs7 = Chainat Hornbill | caps7 = 16 | goals7 = 2 | years8 = 2024 | clubs8 = Phrae United | caps8 = 13 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2024 | clubs9 = Chanthaburi | caps9 = 16 | goals9 = 2 | years10 = 2025– | clubs10 = Sisaket United | caps10 = 15 | goals10 = 2 | club-update = 26 April 2025 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 22 December 2021 }}
'''Ata Jesse "AJ" Inia''' (born 25 April 2000) is an Australian professional soccer player who currently plays for Sisaket United of the Thai League 2.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Rodrigues T. Senase |first=Jose |date=28 December 2020 |title=Tonga's first professional footballer joins Angkor Tiger |work=Khmer Times |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50797963/tongas-first-professional-footballer-joins-angkor-tiger/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710061658/https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50797963/tongas-first-professional-footballer-joins-angkor-tiger/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Club career == Inia played for the Melbourne Knights of Australia's NPL Victoria from 2018.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 May 2018 |title=Melbourne Knights head up the table |work=Star Weekly |location=Brimbank & North West |url=https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/sport/melbourne-knights-head-up-the-table/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702121339/https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/sport/melbourne-knights-head-up-the-table/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He competed with the team in the 2019 FFA Cup, including a Round of 32 match against Adelaide United of the A-League.<ref name="Confirmed squads">{{cite web |title=Confirmed squads for FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 Match Day 3 |date=6 August 2019 |url=https://www.theffacup.com.au/news/confirmed-squads-ffa-cup-2019-round-32-match-day-3 |publisher=Football Australia |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730194701/https://www.theffacup.com.au/news/confirmed-squads-ffa-cup-2019-round-32-match-day-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, ''Star Weekly'' noted that "a delicious cross" by Inia resulting in a goal "provided a glimpse into Inia's bright future".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jenkinson |first=Lance |date=29 July 2019 |title=Sore point for Melbourne Knights |work=Star Weekly |location=Brimbank & North West |url=https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/sport/sore-point-for-melbourne-knights/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702120922/https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/sport/sore-point-for-melbourne-knights/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OFC">{{cite web | title=AJ Inia: I am keen on playing for Tonga | website=Oceania Football Center | date=January 20, 2020 | url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2020/01/20/aj-inia-i-am-keen-on-playing-for-tonga/ | access-date=July 2, 2022 | archive-date=31 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131063723/https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2020/01/20/aj-inia-i-am-keen-on-playing-for-tonga/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 December 2020 |title=គ្រូបង្វិកក្លិបអង្គរថាយហ្គ័រ ដាក់ការរំពឹងខ្ពស់លើកីឡាករវ័យក្មេងថ្មី Ata (AJ) Inia |language=Khmer |work=SBM News |location=Cambodia |url=https://sbm.news/articles/5fea9d03cbba9facd0d31929 |access-date=2022-06-22 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406032246/https://sbm.news/articles/5fea9d03cbba9facd0d31929 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Inia signed with Angkor Tiger of the Cambodian Premier League at the end of 2020 after having tested with the club. Angkor Tiger staff described him as “lightning fast Tongan winger”. The contract made him Tonga's first-ever professional footballer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=30 December 2020 |title=Ata – Tonga's First Professional Soccer Player |work=Matangi Tonga |url=https://matangitonga.to/2020/12/30/ata-tonga-s-first-professional-soccer-player |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-06-22 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516054754/https://matangitonga.to/2020/12/30/ata-tonga-s-first-professional-soccer-player |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In June 2021, ''Khmer Times'' reported that "Tongan standout Inia" was part of the club's "talented lineup".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rodrigues T. Senase |first=Jose |date=8 June 2021 |title=Angkor Tiger hires new assistant coach |work=Khmer Times |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50870171/angkor-tiger-hires-new-assistant-coach/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710061659/https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50870171/angkor-tiger-hires-new-assistant-coach/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The publication also reported that Inia was also the first player of Tongan descent to play in the Kingdom of Cambodia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Rodrigues T. Senase |first=Jose |date=July 13, 2021 |title=MCL: Angkor Tiger nails 6th straight win |work=Khmer Times |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50892845/mcl-angkor-tiger-nails-6th-straight-win/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710061720/https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50892845/mcl-angkor-tiger-nails-6th-straight-win/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" /> Inia equalized in a match against Boeung Ket Angkor FC on November 13, 2021, which ended 1–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 |url=http://www.boeungketfc.com/archives/match_season/2021 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Boeung Ket Football Club |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816020518/http://www.boeungketfc.com/archives/match_season/2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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.<ref name="Trang FC photo">{{cite web |title=Trang FC photo |url=https://www.facebook.com/trangfcmedia/photos/p.1604986346500863/1604986346500863/?type=1&theater |publisher=Trang FC |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710061707/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftrangfcmedia%2Fphotos%2Fp.1604986346500863%2F1604986346500863%2F%3Ftype%3D1%26theater |url-status=live }}</ref> In late February 2022 he re-joined Caroline Springs George Cross FC of the Victorian State League 1.<ref name="2022 ITC CLEARANCES">{{cite web |title=2022 ITC CLEARANCES |url=https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/sites/ffv/files/2022-03/2022%20Clearance%20Records_1.pdf |publisher=Football Victoria |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106020026/https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/sites/ffv/files/2022-03/2022%20Clearance%20Records_1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> That season he scored one goal in the league.<ref name="TOP GOALSCORERS">{{cite web |title=2022 MEN'S STATE LEAGUE TOP GOALSCORERS |url=https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/sites/ffv/files/2022-10/2022_MSL_TopGoalscorer_ALL_0.pdf |publisher=Football Victoria |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313135930/https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/sites/ffv/files/2022-10/2022_MSL_TopGoalscorer_ALL_0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2023 he returned to Thailand for a short stint with Navy before joining Chainat Hornbill of the Thai League 2.<ref name="contract in Thailand">{{cite web |title=Tonga's AJ Inia signs new professional contract in Thailand |date=16 January 2023 |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2023/01/15/tongas-aj-inia-signs-with-thailand-teamm/ |publisher=Oceania Football Center |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="Inia moves to Thailand’s second-tier">{{cite web |title=Tonga's only professional player Inia moves to Thailand's second-tier |date=9 July 2023 |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2023/07/09/tongas-only-professional-player-inia-moves-to-thailands-second-tier/ |publisher=Oceania Football Center |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref>
== International career == Born in Melbourne, Australia,<ref name="Cambodia debut">{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez T. Senase |first1=Jose |date=17 February 2021 |title=Ata Inia: Tonga's first professional footballer readies for Cambodia debut |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50814997/ata-inia-tongas-first-professional-footballer-readies-for-cambodia-debut/ |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Khmer Times |publisher= |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710061659/https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50814997/ata-inia-tongas-first-professional-footballer-readies-for-cambodia-debut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" /> He later expressed keen interest in representing the homeland of his father and grandparents, stating he would like to play with Tonga at senior level.<ref name=":0" />
Inia has not yet featured for any Tongan national side.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bjerkevoll |first=Ola |date=29 December 2020 |title=Tongan heritage player joins Cambodian team |work=Football Oceania |url=https://footballoceania.com/2020/12/29/tongan-heritage-player-join-cambodian-team/ |access-date=2022-06-22 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702142356/https://footballoceania.com/2020/12/29/tongan-heritage-player-join-cambodian-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|aj-inia/597360}} * {{Worldfootball.net|ata-inia|new_id=pe737779}} * [https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/aj-inia/ AJ Inia at Oceania Football Center]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inia, Ata}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Australian men's soccer players Category:Tongan men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Melbourne Knights FC players Category:Caroline Springs George Cross FC players Category:Angkor Tiger FC players Category:Victorian Premier League players Category:Cambodian Premier League players AJ Inia AJ Inia AJ Inia AJ Inia AJ Inia AJ Inia AJ Inia AJ Inia Category:Australian people of Tongan descent Category:Sportspeople of Tongan descent Category:Soccer players from Melbourne Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cambodia Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Cambodia Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Thailand Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand Category:Werribee City FC players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen