 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Opiyo Taiwo Leo Atieno Awounda[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-08-06)6 August 1985 (age 40) | ||
| Place of birth | Brixton, England | ||
| Position | 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 | 23 | (5) |
| 2010–2011 | Luton Town | 13 | (3) |
| 2011 | Stevenage | 1 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Torquay United | 43 | (6) |
| 2012–2013 | Barnet | 4 | (1) |
| Total | 208 | (44) | |
| International career | |||
| 2009–2012 | Kenya | 5 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Opiyo Taiwo Leo Atieno Awounda (born 6 August 1985) is a former professional footballer. Born in England, he representedKenya in the qualifiers for theFIFA World Cup 2010 and theAfrican cup of Nations. He previously played inthe Football League forWalsall,Rochdale,Chester City,Darlington,Torquay United andBarnet and in theUSL First Division for thePuerto Rico Islanders andRochester Rhinos. He first appeared for the Kenya national team in June 2009.
Born Opiyo Taiwo Leo Awounda,[2] Atieno is the son of Moussa Awounda, a formerNation Newspapers correspondent, and Bridget Mary Glaisher,.[1] As a teen he began his football career at the age of 15 withWalsall F.C. After graduating from the club's youth system Taiwo lost his mother to cancer, during which time he spent a month withSouthern League Premier Division clubNuneaton Borough on work experience,[3] Atieno signed professional contract forms in July 2004 under then managerPaul Merson.
He had loan spells atRochdale,[4]Chester City withIan Rush,[5]Kidderminster Harriers,[6] andDarlington.[7] Atieno was released by the club at the end of the 2005–06 season following their relegation fromLeague One.[8]
After leaving Walsall F.C. Atieno joinedConference National clubTamworth in August 2006.[9][10] Atieno scored 12 league goals,[9] though these were not enough to keep Tamworth from relegation to theConference North in April 2007.
Atieno left Tamworth after the 2006–07 season, moving to the United States to joinUSL First Division teamPuerto Rico Islanders.[11]
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 experiencedMontreal Impact side. In the 2008 campaign, Atieno scored a historic goal advancing Puerto Rico Islanders toCONCACAF Champions League group stages. Islanders overcame a 2–1 deficit to knock out thePrimera División de Costa RicaL.D. Alajuelense. L.D. Alajuelense was the first Costa Rican team to win a CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1986.
In March 2009, Atieno joinedRochester Rhinos of the USL First Division; he had requested a trade due to losing his father to cancer and was traded toCharleston Battery during the off-season, but later choose to joinRochester Rhinos instead.[12]
He moved back to England withConference Premier teamLuton Town in March 2010 on a short-term contract, but left in July.[13] After training with South African clubSupersport United during the English summer, he rejoined Luton on 2 September 2010 on a contract until January 2011 after rejecting a deal with the South Africans.[14][15]Atieno scored his first goal for Luton againstBath City on 30 October. This was then followed up with two goals in a 4–2FA Cup First Round replay victory overCorby Town on 17 November. Atieno's goal-scoring form continued into January where he followed up a brace of goals in theFA Trophy againstUxbridge with the final goal (his seventh of the season in all competitions) in Luton's 5–0 home win overYork City on 18 January 2011. Despite this goalscoring run, Luton opted not to extend Atieno's contract. He was released on 31 January.[16]
On 11 February 2011, Atieno signed forLeague Two sideStevenage,[17] and made his debut the next day, starting in their 1–0 away loss atShrewsbury Town.[18] It was to be Atieno's only appearance during Stevenage's2010–11 campaign, and he was released by the club in May 2011 when his contract expired.[19]
Ahead of the2011–12 season, Atieno went on a two-week trial with League Two sideTorquay United.[20] He scored in the club's first pre-season friendly, scoring from the penalty spot in a 2–1 win againstTiverton Town on 13 July 2011.[21] Three days later, Atieno scored again in Torquay's 2–0 victory overChampionship sideBristol City.[22] He signed a one-year contract with Torquay on 25 July 2011, with managerMartin Ling stating — "He has impressed us while he's been here and we've put in a contract that we feel is right".[23] 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 toBurton Albion.[24] A week later, Atieno scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win away atBristol Rovers, finishing sharply on the turn. He was also awarded a penalty, whichRene Howe scored, for Torquay's second goal in the same match.[25] On 13 and 17 May 2012, withRene 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 asTorquay United were beaten at home 2–1.[26]Taiwo left Torquay United at the end of the season.[27]On 26 December 2012, Atieno signed forBarnet withEdgar Davids . He made his debut as a 90th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw away atExeter City,[28] and scored his first goal in a 2–0 home win overBradford City.[29] Atieno left the club by mutual consent on 1 February 2013.[30]
In January 2009 Atieno declared his desire to play for theKenya national football team, telling a reporter for the Kenyan newspaperDaily 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.[31] Though reports the following day suggested he had received his passport and could play in theWorld Cup qualifier againstTunisia,[32] this appeared not to have been the case.[33] He made his debut as a late substitute in the June 2009 qualifier againstMozambique,[34] played the whole of afriendly defeat inBahrain,[35] was again a substitute in the second qualifier against Mozambique,[36] and played 46 minutes in the 1–0 qualifying loss to Tunisia.[37] 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 overTogo in2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[38]
In June 2025, Atieno was charged with the assault ofSugababes singer,Keisha Buchanan. He was charged with eight charges over a 13-year period including assault between 2012 and 2015. He was also charged withcontrolling or coercive behaviour against Buchanan. He was placed on bail atHarrow Crown Court with pleas to be entered in August 2025.[39]
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.
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