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Kiran Chemjong

Kiran Chemjong
Chemjong with Nepal in 2015
Personal information
Full name Kiran Kumar Chemjong Limbu [1]
Date of birth (1990-03-24) 24 March 1990 (age 34)[2]
Place of birth Dhankuta, Nepal
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
–2008 ANFA Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Machhindra
2009–2016 Three Star
2016–2017 Manang Marshyangdi
2017–2018 TC
2018 Minerva Punjab 8 (0)
2018–2019 TC Sports Club
2019–2020 Minerva Punjab 29 (0)
2021 Dhangadhi 8 (0)
2021–2022 Maziya
2022–2024 Punjab 27 (0)
International career‡
2008– Nepal 102 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing    Nepal
SAFF Championship
Runner-up 2021 Maldives
AFC Solidarity Cup
Winner 2016 Malaysia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2024

Kiran Kumar Limbu (Nepali: किरण चेम्जोङ लिम्बु ; born 20 March 1990), also known as Kiran Chemjong,[3] is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Nepal national team.[4]

Club career

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Born in Dhankuta, Chemjong graduated from the ANFA Academy and joined the Machhindra. After spending one year at the club, his impressive performances at Chemjong earned him a move to the Three Star Club in 2007. He has won British Gurkha Cup and Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament. After being the best goalkeeper of south Asia of the time, Kiran was offered by TC Sports Club in January 2017. He played his first game for TC Sports Club in February 2017 and showed impressive performance, helping the club to win the match by 1–0.[5]

Minerva Punjab

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On January 23, 2018, he signed a deal with Hero I League club, Minerva Punjab for an undisclosed amount.[citation needed] He made his debut for the club in an away fixture against NEROCA. He saved a penalty in the 50th minute against East Bengal, which was taken by Katsumi Yusa. He was adjudged as the hero-of-the-match for that fine save.[6] Kiran made total of 8 appearances for the club. He eventually won the 2017–18 I-League with Minerva.[7]

RoundGlass Punjab

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In September 2022, he signed for I-League club RoundGlass Punjab.[8][9] He was part of the team that clinched their second I-League trophy in 2022–23 season, and gained promotion to 2023–24 Indian Super League.[10][11][12][13]

Chemjong made his Indian Super League debut on 23 September, in their 3–1 away defeat to Mohun Bagan in Kolkata.[14][15][16]

International career

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He is currently considered as the first-choice goalkeeper in Nepal. He has a height advantage over more senior keepers like Bikash Malla and Ritesh Thapa. He has produced brilliant displays against oppositions bringing wide acclaims.[17] Chemjong played debut match for Nepal in a 3–2 victory against Macau in 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, although he broke his jaw in the match.[5] He debuted at the home ground in a 1–0 win against Afghanistan during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification.[18]

In the 2012 Nehru Cup, Chemjong won the man of the match award in Nepal's game with India.[19] His performance in the match earned praise from the Indian newspaper The Hindu and from the Maldives head coach István Urbányi.[20]

On 26 March 2024, he earned his 100th international cap in a 3–0 away defeat against Bahrain during the 2026 World Cup qualification, becoming the first Nepalese to achieve this feat. However, according to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), he played his centurion match on 11 June later that year, which ended in a 2–2 away draw against Yemen in the same qualifiers.[21]

Personal life

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In 2015, along with Three Star teammate Bishnu Gurung, Chemjong paid a visit to malnourished children in an orphanage in Pokhara, saying afterwards that it was a "day to remember".[22] On 31 August 2022, He married with his long time girlfriend Kanchan Niraula.[23]

Career statistics

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International

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As of match played 11 June 2024[24][25]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Nepal 2008 1 0
2011 14 0
2012 5 0
2013 10 0
2014 4 0
2015 6 0
2016 5 0
2017 6 0
2018 5 0
2019 9 0
2020 2 0
2021 14 0
2022 4 0
2023 13 0
2024 4 0
Total 102 0

Honours

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Minerva Punjab/RoundGlass Punjab

TC Sports

Maziya S&RC

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Nepal – K. Chemzong – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". www.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. ^ "FIFA – Player Profile – Kiran Chemjong". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Limbu, Tamang win PoY Awards". 12 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  4. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Chemjong, Kiran". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Kiran Chemjong, Goal.com profile". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  6. ^ "I-League: East Bengal miss penalty, hold Minerva for a 2-2 draw". timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b Jonathan Selvaraj (8 March 2018). "Minerva give India another champion team from Punjab". ESPN. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  8. ^ "RoundGlass Punjab FC announces five foreign signings for I-League 2022–23 season". halfwayfootball.com. Halfway Football. 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  9. ^ "RoundGlass Punjab sign Kiran Limbu, Luka Majcen for I-League 2022–23 season | The Warriors have also added experienced defender Aleksandar Ignjatovic to the roster". khelnow.com. Khel Now. 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  10. ^ "RoundGlass Punjab FC wins I-League title, gains ISL promotion". sportstar.thehindu.com. Sportstar. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  11. ^ "RoundGlass Punjab clinch historic I-League title". Rediff.com. Press Trust of India. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  12. ^ Madhavan, Rahul (4 March 2023). "RoundGlass Punjab FC secure promotion to the Indian Super League after clinching the I-League in style". Sportskeeda.com. Press Trust of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  13. ^ "I-League outfit Roundglass Punjab promoted to ISL". thebridge.in. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  14. ^ Dey, Aneesh (23 September 2023). "MBSG 3–1 PFC highlights, ISL 2023–24: Mohun Bagan Super Giant begins title defence in style; Manvir, Petratos, Cummings on the scoresheet". sportstar.thehindu.com. Sportstar. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  15. ^ Ash, Sauradeep (23 September 2023). "Mohun Bagan vs Punjab FC Highlights: MBSG 3–1 PFC — Mariners start ISL campaign with comfortable victory". mykhel.com. Kolkata: MyKhel News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  16. ^ Haldar, Soham (24 September 2023). "Mohun Bagan 3–1 Punjab FC: MBSG player ratings as Mariners begin their ISL trophy defence with a win". Sportskeeda.com. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Kiran Chemjong – Awarded with 1500 USD – Man of the match – Nehru Cup 2012 – RabinsXP". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Nepal Goalie Kiran Chemjong: We Should Have Won The Match Against India". Goal Nepal. 28 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  20. ^ "Nehru Cup 2012: Indian Media, Maldives Coach Praise Kiran Chemjong's Performance". Goal Nepal. 29 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  21. ^ "100 Not Out Kiran Chemjong Honored In Dammam". GoalNepal.com. 12 June 2024.
  22. ^ "National Team Goalie Kiran Chemjong Motivates Underprivalaged Children In Pokhara". GoalNepal.com. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Kiran Chemjong ties knot - OnlineKhabar English News". 31 August 2022.
  24. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (18 January 2024). "Kiran Kumar Limbu Chemjong - International Appearances". RSSSF.
  25. ^ "Kiran Chemjong". Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  26. ^ Media Team, AIFF (12 March 2023). "Champions RoundGlass Punjab end season in style, hit half-century of points". i-league.org. Panchkula. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.

Further reading

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