{{short description|South Sudanese footballer}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kenny Athiu | fullname = Kenjok Athiu | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = Juba, Sudan (now South Sudan) | height = {{height|m=2.01}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenny Athiu |url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/kenny-athiu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319194737/https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/kenny-athiu |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 March 2018 |website=Melbourne Victory FC |access-date=21 November 2019 }}</ref> | position = Forward | currentclub = Brunswick Juventus | 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 | clubs8 = Visakha | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2022 | clubs9 = Essendon Royals | caps9 = 1 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2023 | clubs10 = Heidelberg United | caps10 = 16 | goals10 = 1 | years11 = 2024–2025 | clubs11 = Dandenong City | goals11 = 21 | caps11 = 51 | years12 = 2026– | clubs12 = Brunswick Juventus | goals12 = 0 | caps12 = 6 | nationalyears1 = 2019– | nationalteam1 = South Sudan | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 19 April 2026 | nationalteam-update = 17 November 2019 }} '''Kenjok Athiu''' (born 5 August 1992) is a South Sudanese professional soccer player who plays as a forward for VPL 1 club Brunswick Juventus. <ref>{{cite web |title=Kenjok Athiu Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre |url=https://fv.dribl.com/memberprofile?season=nPmrj2rmow&date_range=default&m=ydoRjbGoDK&competition=LBdDxbvJdb&timezone=Australia%2FSydney |website=fv.dribl.com |access-date=4 April 2026}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stogiannou|first1=George|title=South Springvale revels in the rise of former junior Kenny Athiu|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/sport/south-springvale-revels-in-the-rise-of-former-junior-kenny-athiu/news-story/12a49a6b505d8581981d34826ec7686a|website=Herald Sun|date=31 October 2017|publisher=News Corp|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mitchell|first1=Tim|title=Ken Athiu set for A-League deal with Perth Glory after prolific NPL season at Heidelberg United|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/sport/ken-athiu-set-for-aleague-deal-with-perth-glory-after-prolific-npl-season-at-heidelberg-united/news-story/a65869761cf0cd2a501dfe110768faed?nk=b91dd5f16021b5d35cea5976509562a0-1517742101|website=Herald Sun|date=8 October 2017|publisher=News Corp|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref> Athiu signed his first professional contract with Melbourne Victory in October 2017 on a season-long loan from Heidelberg United.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/victory-confirm-athiu-signing-475373|magazine=FourFourTwo|title=Victory confirm Athiu signing|date=13 October 2017|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/muscat-were-easing-kenny-into-it-475732|title=Muscat: We're easing Kenny into it|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=19 October 2017|access-date=7 November 2017|author=Tito, Clement|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114641/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/muscat-were-easing-kenny-into-it-475732|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/king-kenny-buzzing-but-muscat-urges-patience-477012|title=King Kenny 'buzzing' but Muscat urges patience|author=Tito, Clement|magazine=FourFourTwo|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114611/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/king-kenny-buzzing-but-muscat-urges-patience-477012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 18 June 2018, Athiu signed a new two-year contract with Melbourne Victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/kenny-athiu-signs-two-year-deal|title=Athiu signs two year deal|publisher=Melbourne Victory|date=18 June 2018}}</ref> On 28 August 2020, Melbourne Victory announced that Athiu would not be receiving a new contract.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Victory launch massive cleanout as another four players leave|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/victory-launch-massive-cleanout-as-another-four-players-leave-552576|access-date=2020-08-29|website=FTBL}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.goal.com/en-au/news/victory-striker-athiu-makes-surprise-international-debut-in/1jc1gtsmhw8fu1qvldgxp6vy2r| title = A-League news: Melbourne Victory striker Kenny Athiu makes surprise international debut for South Sudan in World Cup qualifier {{!}} Goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dailyfootballshow.com/australian-links-aplenty-as-south-sudan-open-2022-world-cup-qualifying-campaign/ |title=Australian links aplenty as South Sudan open 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign | Daily Football Show |access-date=6 September 2019 |archive-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906012932/https://dailyfootballshow.com/australian-links-aplenty-as-south-sudan-open-2022-world-cup-qualifying-campaign/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/|title=News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.eurosport.com/football/liberia-win-on-opening-day-of-african-world-cup-qualifiers_sto7443466/story.shtml|title = Liberia win on opening day of African World Cup qualifiers|date = 4 September 2019}}</ref>
==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).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/from-refugee-to-warrior-king--436060|title=From refugee to Warrior king|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=3 September 2016|access-date=7 November 2017|author=Stamocostas, Con|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114539/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/from-refugee-to-warrior-king--436060|url-status=dead}}</ref> He initially settled in Keysborough, before moving to Noble Park and then Narre Warren.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Windley|first1=Matt|title=Heidelberg striker Ken Athiu keeping a level head after his winning FFA Cup goal against Perth Glory|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/heidelberg-striker-ken-athiu-keeping-a-level-head-after-his-winning-ffa-cup-goal-against-perth-glory/news-story/29a2ca151272d53c45541d886167d361|website=Herald Sun|date=2 August 2017|publisher=News Corp|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Tito|first1=Clement|title=DENG EASES A-LEAGUE TRANSITION FOR 'KING KENNY'|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/deng-eases-a-league-transition-for-king-kenny-478334|magazine=FourFourTwo|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=4 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204183427/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/deng-eases-a-league-transition-for-king-kenny-478334|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|22 February 2020}} {| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size:100%; text-align: center;" !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{ref label|A|A}} !colspan="2"|Continental{{ref label|B|B}} !colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|C|C}} !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |rowspan="4" valign="middle"|Melbourne Victory |2017–18 |Y-League||1||0||–||–||–||–||–||–||1||0 |- |2017–18 |rowspan="3" valign="middle"|A-League||4||1||2||2||5||1||2||0||13||4 |- |2018–19 |14||0||1||0||5||0||2||0||22||0 |- |2019–20 |13||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||15||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total ! 31 !! 1 !! 3 !! 2 !! 11 !! 1 !! 4 !! 0 !! 51 !! 4 |}
===Footnotes=== {{refbegin}} :A. {{note|A}} Includes appearances in the FFA Cup. :B. {{note|B}} Includes appearances in the AFC Champions League. :C. {{note|C}} Includes appearances in the A-League finals. {{refend}}
==Honours== ===Club=== ;Heidelberg United * National Premier Leagues: 2017 * National Premier Leagues Victoria Premiership: 2017 * Dockerty Cup: 2017 ;Melbourne Victory * A-League Championship: 2017–18
===Individual=== * National Premier Leagues Victoria Golden Boot: 2017
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway|kenjok-athiu/416254}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athiu, Kenny}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Australian men's soccer players Category:South Sudanese men's footballers Category:South Sudanese expatriate men's footballers Category:South Sudan men's international footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:South Springvale SC players Category:Springvale White Eagles FC players Category:Heidelberg United FC players Category:Melbourne Victory FC players Category:Sri Pahang FC players Category:Visakha FC players Category:National Premier Leagues players Category:A-League Men players Category:Malaysia Super League players Category:Cambodian Premier League players Category:Australian people of South Sudanese descent Category:Sportspeople of South Sudanese descent Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cambodia Category:South Sudanese expatriate sportspeople in Australia Category:South Sudanese expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia Category:South Sudanese expatriate sportspeople in Cambodia Category:Soccer players from Melbourne Category:People from Narre Warren Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen