Tonga’s First Pro Footballer in Thailand | Ata Inia, Chanthaburi FC

“I’m buzzing to play for Tonga. I just can’t wait to put the shirt on and play with the boys,” says Ata Inia.
Though he has yet to make his competitive debut, the proud Tongan became the nation’s first professional footballer when he signed for Angkor Tiger in the Cambodian Premier League four years ago.
Always “really attracted” to the Asian football scene, Inia didn’t hesitate when the opportunity arose to “get his foot in the door”. At just 20 years old, he left Melbourne Knights in Australia’s second tier and packed his bags for Cambodia’s historic city of Siem Reap.
Now, four years later, he’s climbing Thailand’s football ladder. This summer, he signed with Chanthaburi FC in Thai League 2, where he’s quickly settled in.
“The fans here are so good, it’s the best atmosphere to play in,” lauds the winger, who regularly plays in front of packed stadiums.
Off the pitch, the 24-year-old enjoys the “slow life” in Thailand’s eastern city of Chanthaburi. “Everything is so relaxed, and there’s always something beautiful to see around every corner. It’s the perfect place to live.”
With his sights firmly set on Thai League 1, Inia is determined to keep climbing the ranks in Southeast Asian football.
00:12 Chanthaburi FC fans are "so good"
00:30 Club anthems
00:51 Living in Thailand
01:40 "I love the weather, the slow life"
02:00 First move to Cambodia
03:15 Committing to Tonga
03:40 "Tonga was amazing"
04:20 Tonga's first professional footballer
04:40 Ambitions
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[@inthefarcorner]

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[@raymundo632]

Love it mate

[@inthefarcorner]

Thanks mate 👊