Varney Kallon

Varney Kallon Kiatamba Jr. (born 24 April 1993) is a Liberian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Calcutta Customs.

Varney Kallon

Personal information
Full name	Varney Kallon Kiatamba Junior
Date of birth	(1993-04-24) 24 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Liberia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	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]

Professional career statistics

As of 19 April 2018^[12]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
NEROCA	2017–18	I-League	18	2	2	0	—	—	20	2
	2018–19	I-League	0	0	0	0	—	—	0	0
Career total			18	2	2	0	0	0	20	2

International

As of 5 June 2017

Liberia national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2017	1	0
Total	1	0

Honors

Chin United

• Myanmar National League 2: 2013^[13]

Peerless

• Calcutta Premier Division A: 2019–20^[14][15]

Individual

• 2017–18 I-League – Jarnail Singh Award for Best Defender^[16]

References

1. "Varney Kallon Kiatamba win championship with NEROCA FC". Liberia Sports Online. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
2. Pathak, Manasi (11 April 2018). "The unexpected Indian sojourn of Varney Kallon". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
3. "Vasco SC hammer Curtorim Gymkhana". Herald Goa. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
4. "NEROCA FC Announces Squad For Durand Cup & MSL". The Indian League. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
5. "I-League: Neroca FC win thriller against Indian Arrows". India Today. 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
6. "I-League 2017-18: Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach". 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
7. "Minerva Punjab 2-1 NEROCA". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
8. "NEROCA 2-1 Chennai City". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
9. "NEROCA 1-0 Gokulam Kerala". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
10. "Varney Kallon re-signs with NEROCA". NEROCA F.C. (Twitter). Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
11. Kokoi, Anthony (6 June 2017). "Liberia Defeats Sierra Leone in International Friendly". Liberian Observer. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
12. Varney Kallon at Soccerway
13. "Chin United won first ever MNL-2 title". Myanmar Football Federation. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2023. (in Burmese)
14. "CALCUTTA PREMIER DIVISION A 2019/20". Indianfooty.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
15. "we have proved. Kromah leaded [sic] the team from the front :Jahar Das ,Peerless coach". Kolkata Today. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
16. "I-League 2017–18: Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach". firstpost.com. Chandigarh: The FirstPost News. Press Trust of India. 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.

External links

• Varney Kallon at Soccerzz.com