Varney Kallon
Liberian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Varney Kallon Kiatamba Jr. (born 24 April 1993) is a Liberian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Calcutta Customs.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Varney Kallon Kiatamba Junior | ||
| Date of birth | 24 April 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Liberia | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Center-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Calcutta Customs | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Haja | |||
| Karn United | |||
| 2012 | LPRC Oilers | ||
| 2013–2015 | Chin United | ||
| 2015–2016 | Vasco | ||
| 2016–2019 | NEROCA | 35 | (3) |
| 2019 | → Peerless (on loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2021– | Calcutta Customs | 2 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Liberia | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Born in Liberia, Kallon began his career with Liberian Second Division League side Haja Football Club before moving to Karn United.[1] He soon then moved to first division side LPRC Oilers.[1] In 2013, Kallon decided to move abroad to Myanmar and signed for MNL-2 side Chin United.[2] While with Chin United, Kallon helped the club earn promotion to the Myanmar National League.[2]
After helping Chin United earn promotion, Kallon travelled to Kerala in India on the request of footballer Eric Brown to renew his visa.[2] He soon then moved to India permanently and signed for Vasco of the I-League 2nd Division and Goa Professional League.[3] He spent a season with Vasco before fellow African footballer Chika Wali recommended Kallon to I-League 2nd Division club NEROCA. He soon then signed for the club in 2016.[2]
While with the club, Kallon participated in the Durand Cup and the Manipur State League.[4] In May 2017, Kallon helped NEROCA earn promotion to the I-League.[1][5]
On 1 December 2017, Kallon made his professional debut for NEROCA in the I-League against Minerva Punjab.[6] He started and played the whole match as NEROCA lost 2–1.[7] Two weeks later, Kallon scored his first goal in the league for the club against Chennai City. His goal was the first in a 2–1 victory.[8] Kallon then scored the only goal for NEROCA in a 1–0 victory over Gokulam Kerala.[9] At the end of the season, after leading NEROCA to a second-place finish in their debut season, Kallon was adjudged as the I-League's Best Defender of the Season.[2] After the season ended, it was announced that Kallon had signed a new contract with NEROCA, keeping him with the club till 2020.[10]
International
On 5 June 2017, Kallon made his international debut for Liberia in a friendly against Sierra Leone. He started the match as Liberia won 1–0.[11]