Atlanta United winger Machop Chol couldn’t stop smiling Tuesday when he talked about playing for the South Sudan national team.
Chol was born there before his family moved from what was then Sudan to the U.S. when he was 2 years old. They moved to Tucker where Chol went to Southwest DeKalb High School. He joined Atlanta United’s academy, signed with Wake Forest and then signed a Homegrown contract with the Five Stripes.
Chol hadn’t gone home until he was called up by South Sudan manager Elya Wako.
Chol even got to meet family members he only had heard about when they came to the training pitch.
“So amazing for me to represent my country,” he said.
Chol traveled halfway around the world to play and got nine minutes in a 1-0 loss to Congo in the second of a two-game series. It was Chol’s third appearance. South Sudan won the first match 2-1.
South Sudan, which became a country in 2011, is trying to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, which will be held later this year in Ivory Coast, for the first time. South Sudan is in fourth and last place with three points in Group G, which includes Mali, Congo and Gambia. Mali leads with nine points. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance. South Sudan is scheduled to play Gambia on June 16 and Mali on Aug. 9.
Chol said his South Sudan teammates would ask him about MLS and living in Atlanta, particularly the night life.
Chol said both teams share the same values.
“Just being together, being a family and working for each other and trying to succeed,” he said.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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