Kiran Kumar Limbu (Nepali: किरण चेम्जोङ लिम्बु ; born 20 March 1990), also known as Kiran Chemjong, is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Nepal national team.
Club career
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.
Minerva Punjab
On January 23, 2018, he signed a deal with Hero I League club, Minerva Punjab for an undisclosed amount. 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. Kiran made total of 8 appearances for the club. He eventually won the 2017–18 I-League with Minerva.
RoundGlass Punjab
In September 2022, he signed for I-League club RoundGlass Punjab. 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.
Chemjong made his Indian Super League debut on 23 September, in their 3–1 away defeat to Mohun Bagan in Kolkata.
International career
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. 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. He debuted at the home ground in a 1–0 win against Afghanistan during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification.
In the 2012 Nehru Cup, Chemjong won the man of the match award in Nepal's game with India. His performance in the match earned praise from the Indian newspaper The Hindu and from the Maldives head coach István Urbányi.
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.
Personal life
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". On 31 August 2022, He married with his long time girlfriend Kanchan Niraula.
Career statistics
International
Honours
Minerva Punjab/RoundGlass Punjab
- I-League: 2017–18, 2022–23
TC Sports
- Dhivehi Premier League: 2018
Maziya S&RC
- Dhivehi Premier League: 2022
Individual
- Dhivehi Premier League Best Goalkeeper: 2018, 2022
- I-League Best Goalkeeper: 2019–20, 2022–23
- Nepal Super League Best Goalkeeper: 2021
References
Further reading
- Ingale, Shreyash (12 October 2019). "Here's How 'The Warriors – Minerva Punjab' are preparing for upcoming I-League season". iftwc.com. IFTWC – Indian Football Team for World Cup. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
External links
- Kiran Chemjong at Soccerway
- Kiran Chemjong at WorldFootball.net
- Kiran Chemjong at National-Football-Teams.com
