Taiwo Atieno

Taiwo Leo Awounda Atieno (born 6 August 1985 in Brixton) is an English-born Kenyan former footballer. He previously played in the Football League for Walsall, Rochdale, Chester City, Darlington, Torquay United and Barnet and in the USL First Division for the Puerto Rico Islanders and Rochester Rhinos. He first appeared for the Kenya national team in June 2009, and is currently employed as an intermediate coach at the FA.[2]

Taiwo Atieno
Personal information
Full name Taiwo Leo Awuonda Atieno[1]
Date of birth (1985-08-06) 6 August 1985
Place of birth Brixton, England
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2000–2004 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Walsall 5 (0)
2004 → Nuneaton Borough (loan) 3 (0)
2004–2005 → Rochdale (loan) 13 (2)
2005 → Chester City (loan) 4 (1)
2005–2006 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 22 (5)
2006 → Darlington (loan) 3 (0)
2006–2007 Tamworth 39 (12)
2007–2008 Puerto Rico Islanders 39 (12)
2009 Rochester Rhinos 17 (2)
2010–2011 Luton Town 13 (3)
2011 Stevenage 1 (0)
2011–2012 Torquay United 43 (6)
2012–2013 Barnet 4 (1)
Total 208 (44)
National team
2009–2012 Kenya 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

England

Born Opiyo Taiwo Leo Awounda,[3] Atieno is the son of Moussa Awounda, a former Nation Newspapers correspondent, and Bridget Mary Glaisher,.[1] As a teen he began his football career at the age of 15 with Walsall F.C.. After graduating from the club's youth system, during which time he spent a month with Southern League Premier Division club Nuneaton Borough on work experience,[4] Atieno signed professional contract forms in July 2004 under then manager Paul Merson.

He had loan spells at Rochdale,[5] Chester City,[6] Kidderminster Harriers,[7] and Darlington.[8] Atieno was released by the club at the end of the 2005–06 season following their relegation from League One.[9]

After leaving Walsall F.C. Atieno joined Conference National club Tamworth in August 2006.[10][11] Atieno scored 12 league goals,[10] though these were not enough to keep Tamworth from relegation to the Conference North in April 2007.

United States

Atieno left Tamworth after the 2006–07 season, moving to the United States to join USL First Division team Puerto Rico Islanders.[12]

Signing in July, Atieno started his spell well, scoring 7 goals in 12 games. The Islanders surpassed expectations reaching the semi finals of the USL playoffs. Atieno providing 2 goals against an experienced Montreal Impact side. In the 2008 campaign, Atieno scored a historic goal advancing Puerto Rico Islanders to CONCACAF Champions League group stages. Islanders overcame a 2–1 deficit to knock out the Primera División de Costa Rica L.D. Alajuelense. L.D. Alajuelense was the first Costa Rican team to win a CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1986.

In March 2009, Atieno joined Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division; he had been traded to Charleston Battery during the off-season, but had not played for them.[13]

Back to England

He moved back to England with Conference Premier team Luton Town in March 2010 on a short-term contract, but left in July.[14] After training with South African club Supersport United during the English summer, he rejoined Luton on 2 September 2010 on a contract until January 2011 after no deal with the South Africans was forthcoming.[15][16] Atieno scored his first goal for Luton against Bath City on 30 October. This was then followed up with two goals in a 4–2 FA Cup First Round replay victory over Corby Town on 17 November. Atieno's goal-scoring form continued into January where he followed up a brace of goals in the FA Trophy against Uxbridge with the final goal (his seventh of the season in all competitions) in Luton's 5–0 home win over York City on 18 January 2011. Despite this goalscoring run, Luton opted not to extend Atieno's contract. He was released on 31 January.[17]

On 11 February 2011, Atieno signed for League Two side Stevenage,[18] and made his debut the next day, starting in their 1–0 away loss at Shrewsbury Town.[19] It was to be Atieno's only appearance during Stevenage's 2010–11 campaign, and he was released by the club in May 2011 when his contract expired.[20]

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Atieno went on a two-week trial with League Two side Torquay United.[21] He scored in the club's first pre-season friendly, scoring from the penalty spot in a 2–1 win against Tiverton Town on 13 July 2011.[22] Three days later, Atieno scored again in Torquay's 2–0 victory over Championship side Bristol City.[23] He signed a one-year contract with Torquay on 25 July 2011, with manager Martin Ling stating — "He has impressed us while he's been here and we've put in a contract that we feel is right".[24] Atieno made his competitive debut for Torquay in the club's first game of the 2011–12 campaign, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw at home to Burton Albion.[25] A week later, Atieno scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win away at Bristol Rovers, finishing sharply on the turn. He was also awarded a penalty, which Rene Howe scored, for Torquay's second goal in the same match.[26] On 13 and 17 May 2012, with Rene Howe injured, Taiwo was subbed on for the first leg of the play-off semi finals however failed to score. Similarly in the second leg he was subbed on however he did bag a goal, which only proved to be a consolation goal as Torquay United were beaten at home 2–1.[27] Taiwo was released at the end of the season.[28] On 26 December 2012, Atieno signed for Barnet. He made his debut as a 90th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw away at Exeter City,[29] and scored his first goal in a 2–0 home win over Bradford City.[30] Atieno left the club by mutual consent on 1 February 2013.[31]

International career

In January 2009 Atieno declared his desire to play for the Kenya national football team, telling a reporter for the Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation "It has been my dream to play for Kenya since I was 13".[1] After Kenya's immigration minister stated that Atieno had to renounce his British citizenship before he could be granted a Kenyan passport, this seemed unlikely.[32] Though reports the following day suggested he had received his passport and could play in the World Cup qualifier against Tunisia,[33] this appeared not to have been the case.[34] He made his debut as a late substitute in the June 2009 qualifier against Mozambique,[35] played the whole of a friendly defeat in Bahrain,[36] was again a substitute in the second qualifier against Mozambique,[37] and played 46 minutes in the 1–0 qualifying loss to Tunisia.[38] On 29 February 2012, Atieno returned to the international side after three years away, gaining his fifth cap, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute in a 2–1 win over Togo in 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[39]

Honours
Puerto Rico Islanders

References
  1. "Kenyan from the Diaspora keen to play for Harambee Stars". Daily Nation. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  2. https://twitter.com/TyAtieno
  3. "Search 1984 to 2006 - Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  4. "Young Striker Lands Loan Move". Walsall F.C. 4 February 2004. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  5. "Rochdale snap up Atieno on loan". BBC Sport. 22 October 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  6. "Atieno in Chester loan transfer". BBC Sport. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  7. "Atieno makes Harriers loan switch". BBC Sport. 8 August 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  8. Luff, Kevin (23 March 2006). "Quakers complete two loan signings". Darlington F.C. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  9. "Saddlers Release Four". Walsall F.C. 8 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  10. "Taiwo Atieno". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  11. Pullen, Nick (25 August 2006). "Unhappy Cooper rings the changes". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  12. "Taiwo Atieno". Puerto Rico Islanders. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  13. "Rhinos acquire Islanders' Atieno". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  14. "Town Tai Up New Striker". Luton Town F.C. 24 March 2010. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  15. "Atieno back for second spell". Luton Town F.C. 2 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  16. "Hatters to sign Kenyan". Sky Sports. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  17. Cunliffe, James (31 January 2011). "Money thanks Drury for the memories after Ipswich switch". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Local Sunday Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  18. "Boro sign Taiwo Atieno". Stevenage F.C. 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  19. "Shrewsbury 1–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  20. "Atieno leaves and Odubade returns". Stevenage F.C. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  21. "Torquay boss Martin Ling wants Taiwo Atieno to prove himself". BBC Sport. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  22. "Tiverton 1 Gulls 2". Torquay United F.C. 13 July 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  23. "Torquay United 2–0 Bristol City". Bristol City F.C. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  24. "Striker Taiwo Atieno signs for Torquay United". BBC Sport. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  25. "Torquay 2–2 Burton". BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  26. "Bristol Rovers 1–2 Torquay". BBC Sport. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  27. "Torquay United 1-2 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  28. "Taiwo Atieno to leave Torquay United". BBC Sport. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  29. Exeter 2 - 2 Barnet
  30. Barnet 2 - 0 Bradford
  31. Taiwo Atieno leaves Barnet
  32. Nyende, Charles (18 March 2009). "Taiwo's dream debut for Stars highly unlikely". Daily Nation. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  33. Nyende, Charles (19 March 2009). "Mathare stars out as Taiwo gets passport". Daily Nation. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  34. Kitula, Sammy (15 June 2009). "Origi back in Stars as Taiwo also expected home today". Daily Nation. Retrieved 24 September 2009. After landing from Nigeria, coach Antoine Hey had said that Taiwo was expected to breathe new life into the poorly performing striking force. It is still unclear, however, if the citizenship issues that locked the striker out of the team before the Tunisia match have been resolved.
  35. "Africa Group B Kenya 2:1 Mozambique". FIFA. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  36. Wandera, Gilbert, and agencies (28 August 2009). "Stars fall to hosts Bahrain in first encounter". The Standard. Retrieved 24 September 2009.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. "Africa Group B Mozambique 1:0 Kenya". FIFA. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  38. "Africa Group B Tunisia 1:0 Kenya". FIFA. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  39. "Wanga hands Kenya win over Togo". Futaa. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
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