{{Short description|Liberian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Varney Kallon | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Varney Kallon Kiatamba Junior | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|4|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Liberia | height = 1.84 m | currentclub = Calcutta Customs | clubnumber = | position = Center-back | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = Haja | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = | clubs2 = Karn United | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 2012 | clubs3 = LPRC Oilers | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 2013–2015 | clubs4 = Chin United | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2015–2016 | clubs5 = Vasco | caps5 = | goals5 = | years6 = 2016–2019 | clubs6 = NEROCA | caps6 = 35 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2019 | clubs7 = → Peerless (on loan) | caps7 = 6 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2021– | clubs8 = Calcutta Customs | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2017 | nationalteam1 = Liberia | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = | ntupdate = }}
'''Varney Kallon Kiatamba Jr.''' (born 24 April 1993) is a Liberian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Calcutta Customs.
==Career== Born in Liberia, Kallon began his career with Liberian Second Division League side Haja Football Club before moving to Karn United.<ref name="NEROCA Promoted">{{cite news|title=Varney Kallon Kiatamba win championship with NEROCA FC|url=https://liberiasportsonline.com/league-varney-kallon-kiatamba-win-championship-neroca-fc/|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Liberia Sports Online|date=30 May 2017|archive-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917174006/https://liberiasportsonline.com/league-varney-kallon-kiatamba-win-championship-neroca-fc/|url-status=live}}</ref> He soon then moved to first division side LPRC Oilers.<ref name="NEROCA Promoted"/> In 2013, Kallon decided to move abroad to Myanmar and signed for MNL-2 side Chin United.<ref name="Goal">{{cite news|last1=Pathak|first1=Manasi|title=The unexpected Indian sojourn of Varney Kallon|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/varney-kallon-kiatamba-jr-neroca-i-league/qvh5vbxzyq5w1xub7kkxcf478|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Goal.com|date=11 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135511/http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/varney-kallon-kiatamba-jr-neroca-i-league/qvh5vbxzyq5w1xub7kkxcf478|url-status=live}}</ref> While with Chin United, Kallon helped the club earn promotion to the Myanmar National League.<ref name="Goal"/>
After helping Chin United earn promotion, Kallon travelled to Kerala in India on the request of footballer Eric Brown to renew his visa.<ref name="Goal"/> He soon then moved to India permanently and signed for Vasco of the I-League 2nd Division and Goa Professional League.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vasco SC hammer Curtorim Gymkhana|url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Sports/Vasco-SC-hammer-Curtorim-Gymkhana/94981.html|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Herald Goa|date=26 October 2015|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420074211/https://www.heraldgoa.in/Sports/Vasco-SC-hammer-Curtorim-Gymkhana/94981.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Goal"/>
While with the club, Kallon participated in the Durand Cup and the Manipur State League.<ref>{{cite news|title=NEROCA FC Announces Squad For Durand Cup & MSL|url=http://www.theindianleague.in/2016/07/neroca-fc-releases-announces-squad.html|access-date=19 April 2018|work=The Indian League|date=11 July 2016|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420074511/http://www.theindianleague.in/2016/07/neroca-fc-releases-announces-squad.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2017, Kallon helped NEROCA earn promotion to the I-League.<ref name="NEROCA Promoted"/><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=February 1, 2019 |title=I-League: Neroca FC win thriller against Indian Arrows|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/i-league-indian-arrows-vs-neroca-fc-minerva-vs-aizawl-1444700-2019-02-01|access-date=2021-05-13|magazine=India Today|language=en|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513102514/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/i-league-indian-arrows-vs-neroca-fc-minerva-vs-aizawl-1444700-2019-02-01|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 1 December 2017, Kallon made his professional debut for NEROCA in the I-League against Minerva Punjab.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/i-league-2017-18-minerva-punjab-presented-with-winners-trophy-nerocas-gift-raikhan-named-seasons-best-coach-4401551.html|title=I-League 2017-18: Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach|date=22 March 2018|access-date=23 March 2023|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323220106/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/i-league-2017-18-minerva-punjab-presented-with-winners-trophy-nerocas-gift-raikhan-named-seasons-best-coach-4401551.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He started and played the whole match as NEROCA lost 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minerva Punjab 2-1 NEROCA|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/01/india/i-league/india-minerva-fc/neroca/2683966/|website=Soccerway|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420080828/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/01/india/i-league/india-minerva-fc/neroca/2683966/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=NEROCA 2-1 Chennai City|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/15/india/i-league/neroca/chennai-city/2683977/|website=Soccerway|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420082338/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/15/india/i-league/neroca/chennai-city/2683977/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kallon then scored the only goal for NEROCA in a 1–0 victory over Gokulam Kerala.<ref>{{cite web|title=NEROCA 1-0 Gokulam Kerala|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/04/india/i-league/neroca/gokulam/2684024/|website=Soccerway|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420080019/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/04/india/i-league/neroca/gokulam/2684024/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Goal"/> After the season ended, it was announced that Kallon had signed a new contract with NEROCA, keeping him with the club till 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Varney Kallon re-signs with NEROCA|url=https://twitter.com/NerocaFC/status/986904047889215493|website=NEROCA F.C. (Twitter)|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109035034/https://twitter.com/NerocaFC/status/986904047889215493|url-status=live}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kokoi|first1=Anthony|title=Liberia Defeats Sierra Leone in International Friendly|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/sports/liberia-defeats-sierra-leone-in-international-friendly/|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Liberian Observer|date=6 June 2017|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420074556/https://www.liberianobserver.com/sports/liberia-defeats-sierra-leone-in-international-friendly/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Professional career statistics== {{updated|19 April 2018}}<ref>{{Soccerway|kallon-kiatamba-jr/525028}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="2"|NEROCA |2017–18 |I-League||18||2||2||0||—||—||20||2 |- |2018–19 |I-League||0||0||0||0||—||—||0||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !18!!2!!2!!0!!0!!0!!20!!2 |}
===International=== {{updated|5 June 2017}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan=3 | Liberia national team |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2017||1||0 |- !Total||1||0 |}
==Honors== '''Chin United''' *Myanmar National League 2: 2013<ref>{{cite news | title=Chin United won first ever MNL-2 title | url=http://themff.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=505:mnl-2-new-holland-2013&catid=51&Itemid=516 | publisher=Myanmar Football Federation | date=2013-06-28 | access-date=23 March 2023 | archive-date=27 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327144351/http://themff.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=505:mnl-2-new-holland-2013&catid=51&Itemid=516 | url-status=live }} (in Burmese)</ref>
'''Peerless''' *Calcutta Premier Division A: 2019–20<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiafooty.com/calcutta-premier-division-a-2019-20/|title=CALCUTTA PREMIER DIVISION A 2019/20|website=Indianfooty.com|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=18 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118195712/http://www.indiafooty.com/calcutta-premier-division-a-2019-20/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kolkatatoday.com/sports/we-have-proved-kromah-leaded-the-team-from-the-front-jahar-das-peerless-coach/|website=Kolkata Today|title=we have proved. Kromah {{as written|le|aded [sic]}} the team from the front: Jahar Das, Peerless coach|access-date=17 March 2021|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416062728/https://kolkatatoday.com/we-have-proved-kromah-leaded-the-team-from-the-front-jahar-das-peerless-coach/|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *2017–18 I-League – Jarnail Singh Award for Best Defender<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/i-league-2017-18-minerva-punjab-presented-with-winners-trophy-nerocas-gift-raikhan-named-seasons-best-coach-4401551.html|title=I-League 2017–18: Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach|date=22 March 2018|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323220106/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/i-league-2017-18-minerva-punjab-presented-with-winners-trophy-nerocas-gift-raikhan-named-seasons-best-coach-4401551.html|agency=Press Trust of India|location=Chandigarh|website=firstpost.com|publisher=The FirstPost News}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Worldfootball.net|varney-kallon|new_id=pe497897}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kallon, Varney}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Liberian men's footballers Category:Liberia men's international footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Vasco SC players Category:NEROCA FC players Category:Peerless SC players Category:Goa Professional League players Category:Myanmar National League players Category:I-League 2 players Category:I-League players Category:Calcutta Football League players Category:Liberian expatriate men's footballers Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Myanmar Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in India Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Myanmar Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India