Ati Kepo

Ati Kepo (born 15 January 1996) is a Papua New Guinean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Hekari United and the Papua New Guinean national team.

Ati Kepo
Personal information
Full name Ati Kepo
Date of birth (1996-01-15) 15 January 1996
Place of birth Papua New Guinea
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Hekari United
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Hekari United
International career
2022– Papua New Guinea 10 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Kepo is from the village of Kalo in the Rigo District.[1] He represented his village's team at the Hekari Central Cup and was scouted, along with two of his brothers, to join Hekari United.[1][2]

International career

Kepo debuted internationally with the Papua New Guinea national team on 8 July 2019 in a friendly match against Samoa in a 6-0 victory in which he scored.

Kepo was again called up on 18 March 2022 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against New Zealand in a 1–0 defeat. It was his first cap after four years. On 24 March 2022, Kepo scored for Papua New Guinea against Fiji in a 2–1 victory, advancing his team to the final stage to face the Solomon Islands in which he scored another goal, resulting a 3–2 defeat.[3][4][5]

On 16 June 2023, Kepo scored his first goal against an Asian opponent, Singapore which resulted in a 2–2 draw at the Singapore National Stadium.

International goals
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 July 2019J.S. Blatter Soccer Stadium, Apia, Samoa Samoa6–06–02019 Pacific Games
2.24 March 2022Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Fiji1–12–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.27 March 2022 Solomon Islands2–32–3
4.24 September 2022Korman Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu Vanuatu1–01–02022 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
5.16 June 2023National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Singapore2–22–2Friendly

References
  1. "Kepo siblings to debut". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  2. Isimeli, Tasminnie (19 February 2023). "Kepo brotheers look forward to OFC Champions League". PNG Haus Bung. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. "Fiji out of Oceania Qualifiers after going down to PNG 2-1". Fijivillage. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™". FIFA. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  5. "PNG Kapuls bows out of FIFA World Cup in Qatar". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 April 2022.


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