Henry Atola

Henry Atola
Personal information
Full name Henry Atola Meja
Date of birth (2001-12-21) 21 December 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Kakamega, Kenya
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
 AFC Eskilstuna
(on loan from AIK)
Number 20
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Tusker 9 (11)
2022– AIK 3 (0)
2023 → Norrby IF (loan) 13 (4)
2024– → AFC Eskilstuna (loan) 13 (3)
International career‡
2021– Kenya 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 July 2023

Henry Atola Meja (born 21 December 2001) is a Kenyan footballer who plays for AFC Eskilstuna, on loan from AIK, and the Kenyan national team.

Club career

Meja came up through the ranks of Green Commandos SC of the National Super League. With Lihrembe Arsenal FC he won the 2018 and 2019 Cleophas Malala Super Cup, winning the Golden Boot Award in both editions of the tournament.[1] In January 2020 he signed a three-year contract with Tusker F.C. of the Kenya Premier League. He spurned interest from AFC Leopards and Kakamega Homeboyz for the promise of top-flight minutes and so that he could play with his brother Sammy.[2] He scored his first goal for the club on 13 December 2020 against Gor Mahia. He came off the bench to score the game-winning goal of the 2–1 victory.[3] He was named the Premier League and Tusker's Player of the Month for January 2021 after tallying four goals and an assist for the month.[4][5] In March 2021 it was reported by local media that Meja's progress was being tracked by Zamalek of the Egyptian Premier League and Tanzanian club Simba.[6]

In September 2021 Swedish top-tier club AIK communicated that they had signed Meja on a five-year deal and that he would join the club for the pre-season in January 2022.[7] Meja’s official arrival at AIK was announced in January 2022 at the opening of the transfer window.[8] The player's contract was set to run through 1 September 2026.[9]

In January 2023 Melo was loaned out to Norrby IF for the 2023 season.[9]

In March 2024, Meja joined AFC Eskilstuna on loan for the 2024 season.[10]

International career

In October 2020 Meja was named to kenya's provisional squad for the 2020 CECAFA U-20 Championship.[11] He was called-up to the senior national team for the first time in February 2021.[12][5] He made his senior international debut on 13 March 2021 in a friendly against Sudan.[13] Later that year, he was named to the Kenya U23 team for the 2021 CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup in Ethiopia.[14]

International career statistics

As of match played 10 October 2021.[13]
Kenya national team
Year Apps Goals
2021 5 0
Total 5 0

References

  1. ^ Kisenge, Meshack. "The youngster Meja could offer solutions to Tusker's woes". The Star. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. ^ Luchetu, Calistus. "Why Meja turned down top clubs to join Tusker". The Star. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ^ Chepsikor, Charles. "Tusker's Teenage Striker Henry Meja Announces Himself to the Big Stage". sportsplugke.co.ke. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  4. ^ Eshitemi, Rodgers; Onyango, Jonah. "Tusker FC teenage sensation Henry Meja wins Best Player of the Month award". Standard Media. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b Sang, Kiplagat. "Henry Meja: Newly summoned Harambee Star named Tusker's best January player". Goal. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^ Ochieng, Stephen. "Henry Meja - the Kenyan Rashford". Mozzart Sport Kenya. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Henry Atola Meja klar för AIK Fotboll". AIK Fotboll (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Henry "Meja" Atola på plats i Sverige". AIK Fotboll (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b Billengren, Ludwig. "Officiellt: AIK lånar ut Atola" (in Swedish). Fotboll Skanalen. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ^ "AFC lånar Henry Atola Meja från AIK" [AFC loan Henry Atola Meja from AIK]. www.afc-eskilstuna.se (in Swedish). 18 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  11. ^ "CECAFA U20 CHAMPIONSHIP : KENYANAME PROVISIONAL RISING STARS SQUAD". Africa Top Sports. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ Sang, Kiplagat. "Hopeful Meja reveals ambition to become regular Harambee Star after maiden call-up". Goal. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  13. ^ a b "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  14. ^ Sang, Kiplagat. "Cecafa U23 Championship: Okumbi includes returning Gor Mahia's Omala, Tusker's Meja in Kenya squad". MSN. Retrieved 17 July 2021.