Tongan star Ata Inia scores twice in Thailand following the loss of his father

Melbourne-born Tongan winger Ata Inia scored twice for Kasetsart FC in their 3–1 victory over Mahasarakham United in Thailand’s second division on Wednesday, 14 October, just days after returning to action following the death of his father. The 26-year-old had travelled to his hometown of Melbourne earlier this month to attend his father’s funeral, making his decisive performance an especially personal moment.

Inia opened the scoring in the 39th minute, giving Kasetsart a half-time advantage before Mahasarakham equalised through C. Samphaodi shortly after the restart. Rungrath Poomchantuek restored the home side’s lead in the 65th minute, and Inia struck again in the 87th to secure the three points. His goals helped Kasetsart claim their first league victory of the season, having collected just one point from their previous five matches.

The forward had informed Oceania Football Center on 3 October that he was in Melbourne following his father’s passing. He subsequently shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, remembering his father as someone who had taught him valuable lessons about life and expressing gratitude to those who supported his family during the difficult period. Inia was back in Kasetsart’s starting lineup against Chiangmai United on 10 October, four days before his two-goal performance.

Following the victory, Inia shared another tribute on social media, featuring a picture of his father above an image of himself pointing towards the sky during a football celebration. “Best seats in the house now Dad,” he wrote, accompanied by a heart.

Born in Australia to a family of Tongan heritage, Inia has spent much of his professional career in Southeast Asia, representing clubs in Cambodia and Thailand. He has maintained his commitment to representing Tonga internationally and has previously been involved with the Tonga Football Association, although his senior international debut remains outstanding. Passport complications prevented him from featuring in the 2024 OFC Men’s Nations Cup qualifiers.

While his international ambitions remain unfinished, Inia’s latest contribution in Thailand came at a particularly difficult moment in his personal life, helping his club secure an important victory while paying tribute to his late father.