- Mohamed Kallon
-
Mohamed Kallon Personal information Full name Mohamed Kallon Date of birth October 6, 1979 Place of birth Kenema, Sierra Leone Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) Playing position Striker Club information Current club Viva Kerala Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1994 Old Edwardians 13 (4) 1994–1995 Tadamon Sour 24 (15) 1995 Spånga 0 (0) 1995–1999 Internazionale 0 (0) 1995–1997 → Lugano (loan) 18 (1) 1997 → Bologna (loan) 2 (0) 1997–1998 → Genoa (loan) 26 (10) 1998–1999 → Cagliari (loan) 26 (6) 1999–2000 Reggina 30 (11) 2000–2001 Vicenza 24 (8) 2001–2004 Internazionale 42 (14) 2004–2007 Monaco 48 (13) 2005–2006 → Al-Ittihad (loan) 26 (12) 2008 AEK Athens 8 (2) 2008–2009 Al-Shabab 4 (1) 2009–2010 Kallon 11 (2) 2010 Shaanxi Chanba 21 (7) 2010– Viva Kerala 0 (0) National team‡ 1995– Sierra Leone 33 (14) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 September 2010.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 February 2012Mohamed Kallon (born 6 October 1979) is a Sierra Leonean international footballer and considered[citation needed] the most famous footballer from Sierra Leone. He is currently playing for I-League club Viva Kerala FC
Contents
Biography
Personal life
Kallon was born on 6 October 1979 in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city, to Mende parents. Kallon is the younger brother to former Sierra Leone international footballers Kemokai Kallon and Musa Kallon. Mohamed Kallon attended primary school in Kenema and completed his secondary education at St. Edwards Secondary School in Freetown.
Kallon was given the nickname Small Kallon by Sierra Leonean football fans because he was the youngest of the three Kallon brothers in the national team.
Early career
After he completed his form three level of education (grade 9 in the U.S) from St. Edwards Secondary School in Freetown in 1994, Kallon signed with local club, Old Edwardians of the Sierra Leone National Premier League at the age of 15. During the 1994-1995 season, he struck fifteen goals in 24 league games for Old Edwardians and became the youngest player to ever play and score in Sierra Leone National Premier League.
After the 1994-1995 season, Kallon left Old Edwardians and signed for Lebanese club Tadamon Sour. He spent one season with Spånga IS in Stockholm, Sweden. He was then signed by Internazionale.[1] He then loaned to Swiss club AC Lugano, Serie A club Bologna F.C. 1909, and Serie B clubs Genoa and Cagliari. He also farmed to Reggina and Vicenza in a co-ownership deal. He played with Cristiano Zanetti at Cagliari, who he later worked with again at Internazionale.
Internazionale
- 2001–02
After the abolition of the non-EU quota for each team in the mid of 2000-01 season,[2] Kallon returned to Italian giants Internazionale before the start of the 2001-2002 season.[3] With Christian Vieri, Ronaldo, Álvaro Recoba, Adriano, Hakan Şükür and Nicola Ventola also in the side, Kallon was originally a 3rd or 4th choice striker. But injuries to Ronaldo and Recoba meant that Kallon played 29 Serie A matches, scoring 9 goals and becoming the team's 2nd highest scorer of the 2001-02 Serie A season, behind Vieri.
- 2002–03
He only played 9 times (scoring 5 goals) in Serie A in 2002-03 season due to injuries in August[4] and February.[5] Kallon returned to the side in May after Gabriel Batistuta was injured in April. He also played both legs of the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League semi-final against A.C. Milan as Batistuta was unable to register. He played in both games as a second half substitute, for Álvaro Recoba and Hernán Crespo respectively.
- 2003–04
Kallon tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone after the Serie A match against Udinese Calcio on 27 September 2003[6] and was banned from football for eight months. Kallon again struggled to get into the starting eleven when he returned during the 2003-2004 season, primarily due to the rise of young Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins and the return of Brazilian ace Adriano.[7]
AS Monaco
- 2004–05
He signed a 4-year contract with Monégasque club AS Monaco before the start of the 2004-2005 season, as the UEFA Champions League runner-up had lost Dado Pršo and Fernando Morientes.[8] He was impressive during his first season at Monaco, but quickly fell out with French manager Didier Deschamps, and was relegated to the bench in March 2005.
- 2005-06 (Al-Ittihad)
He went on loan to Saudi club Al-Ittihad during the start of the 2005-2006 season,[9] and helped the team win the AFC Champions League 2005 where he was top scorer in the competition before returning to AS Monaco. He also played at the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship with Al-Ittihad.
- 2006–08
He played 14 Ligue 1 games in his last season for Monaco. He played his last match in Ligue 1 on 11 August 2007 against FC Lorient, the 2nd match of the season, before he was released by Monaco. He underwent a trial with Birmingham in September 2007,[10] after previously being linked with Derby County in July.[11] However, Kallon failed to qualify for a work permit in England, as Sierra Leone ranked 79th in the FIFA World Rankings in September 1997, but the requirement was above 70th for non-EU internationals. In November 2007, he signed a pre-contract with Al-Hilal,[12] but this later collapsed.[13]
AEK FC
Kallon signed a 6 month contract with Greek giants AEK F.C. on 29 January 2008.[14] He played for the capital club in the UEFA Cup 2007–08 round of 32 against Getafe CF, but AEK lost 1-4 on aggregate, with no goals from Kallon. He also played in the Super League Greece playoffs to determine qualification to European competition. He scored once in his 3 appearances, and AEK finished second to qualify for the following year's UEFA Cup.[15]
Al-Shabab
He moved to Al-Shabab of the United Arab Emirates in 2008. He was released after picking up a serious injury in an international match.
Kallon FC
In October 2009, he signed for his own club Kallon FC.[16]
Shaanxi Zhongjian Chanba
On 1 March 2010, he joined the Chinese championship, signing a one-year deal with Shaanxi Zhongjian Chanba.[17][18] Kallon made his CSL debut against Dalian Shide on 28 March and scored a penalty kick in 50th minute.[19] He decided to leave after his contract was finished in December to be closer to his family.[20]
International career
Kallon became the youngest player to ever play for the Leone Stars when he made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone at the age of fifteen in April 1995 against Congo in the 1996 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Freetown, in which he scored the winner. At the age of 16, Kallon was the youngest player at the 1996 African Nations cup in South Africa. He scored one of his country's two goals as Sierra Leone defeated Burkina Faso 2 - 1 in their opening group match at the 1996 African Nations Cup, played at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Since then, he is the key member of Leone Stars and active at 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup qualification. His most recent cap is on 9 February 2011 against Nigeria in a friendly. Kallon was the captain of the Sierra Leone national team but quit his captaincy after the team failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 African Cup of Nations.[21]
Honours
Career statistics
Club
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Sierra Leone League Sierra Leonean FA Cup League Cup Africa Total 1992/93 Old Edwardians National Premier League 0 0 1993/94 27 12 Lebanon League Lebanese FA Cup League Cup Asia Total 1994/95 Tadamon Sour Premier League 24 15 Switzerland League Schweizer Cup League Cup Europe Total 1995/96 Lugano Super League 1 0 1996/97 17 1 Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total 1997/98 Bologna Serie A 2 0 1997/98 Genoa Serie B 26 10 1998/99 Cagliari Serie A 26 6 1999/00 Reggina Serie A 30 11 2000/01 Vicenza Serie A 24 8 2001/02 Internazionale Milano Serie A 28 9 2002/03 9 5 2003/04 5 0 France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total 2004/05 Monaco Ligue 1 34 11 Saudi Arabia League Crown Prince Cup League Cup Asia Total 2005/06 Al-Ittihad Jeddah Professional League 26 12 France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total 2006/07 Monaco Ligue 1 12 2 2007/08 2 0 Greece League Greek Football Cup Greek League Cup Europe Total 2007/08 AEK Athens Super League 8 2 Country Sierra Leone 27 12 Lebanon 24 15 Switzerland 18 1 Italy 150 49 France 48 13 Saudi Arabia 26 12 Greece 8 2 Total 301 104 International
Sierra Leone national team Year Apps Goals 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 3 0 2001 4 0 2002 2003 2 0 2004 2005 2006 1 0 2007 2 0 2008 5 1 2011 1 0 Total International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Goal Competition 1. 22 April 1995 Brazzaville, Republic of Congo Congo 2–0 1 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification[23] 3 June 1995 Freetown, Sierra Leone Niger 5–1 1 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification 15 January 1996 Bloemfontein, South Africa Burkina Faso 2–1 1 1996 African Cup of Nations[24] 18 January 1996 Bloemfontein, South Africa Algeria 0–2 0 1996 African Cup of Nations 16 June 1996 Freetown, Sierra Leone Burundi 0–1 0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 9 November 1996 Rabat, Morocco Morocco 0–4 0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 11 January 1997 Freetown, Sierra Leone Gabon 1–0 0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 April 1997 Freetown, Sierra Leone Ghana 1–1 0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 26 April 1997 Freetown, Sierra Leone Morocco 0–1 0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 17 August 1997 Obuasi, Ghana Ghana 2–0 1 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 22 April 2000 Freetown, Sierra Leone São Tomé and Príncipe 4–0 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 17 June 2000 Lagos, Nigeria Nigeria 0–2 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 9 July 2000 Accra, Ghana Ghana 0–5 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 29 October 2000 Rome, Italy Italy 0–0 0 Unofficial Friendly (for Foreigner of Italy)[25] 25 February 2001 Paynesville, Liberia Liberia 0–1 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 10 March 2001 Freetown, Sierra Leone Sudan 0–2 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 21 April 2001 Freetown, Sierra Leone Nigeria 1–0 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 14 July 2001 Freetown, Sierra Leone Liberia 0–1 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 8 June 2003 Casablanca, Morocco Morocco 0–1 0 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification[citation needed] 22 June 2003 Freetown, Sierra Leone Equatorial Guinea 2–0 1 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification[26] 12 October 2003 Brazzaville, Republic of Congo Congo 0–1 0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification 15 June 2005 Freetown, Sierra Leone Guinea B 2–0 1 Unofficial Friendly[27] 24 March 2007 Lomé, Togo Togo 1–3 1 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification[28] 7 May 2007 London, United Kingdom Leyton Orient 4–2 1 Unofficial Friendly[29] 17 October 2007 Freetown, Sierra Leone Guinea-Bissau 1–0 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 17 November 2007 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau 0–0 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 1 June 2008 Malabo, Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 0–2 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 14 June 2008 Freetown, Sierra Leone South Africa 1–0 1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 21 June 2008 Atteridgeville, South Africa South Africa 0–0 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 6 September 2008 Freetown, Sierra Leone Equatorial Guinea 2–1 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 11 October 2008 Abuja, Nigeria Nigeria 1–4 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 9 February 2011 Lagos, Nigeria Nigeria 1–2 0 friendly Club owner
Kallon is the founder and owner of the Sierra Leonean football club Kallon F.C.,[30] currently playing in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. Kallon is one of the top clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League and play their home games at the National Stadium in Freetown. Previously known as Sierra Fisheries, Kallon acquired the club in 2002 for $30,000.[30]
Kallon FC won the Sierra Leonean FA Cup, and the Sierra Leone League title in 2006, and qualifying for the African Champions League.
Mohamed Kallon Children's Foundation
Apart from the Kalleone Group of Company, comprising a musical recording studio, radio station, newspaper, sportshops, old Skool night club, pharmacy and FC Kallon, Mohamed Kallon is also about to launch his charity foundation, the MKCF, Mohamed Kallon Children's Foundation, which will cater for the needs of hundreds of Sierra Leone's street children.[31] Recently Mohamed Kallon told SierraEye Magazine that as a boy himself who grew up in the streets of Freetown he is moved by the state of Sierra Leone Street Children and want to do all he can to help them. The foundation has made headways recently meeting with the president and working together with the United Nations and other NGOs to provide help for several Sierra Leonean children and also aiding the HIV/AIDS sensitisation programme in Sierra Leone. The setting up of MKCF by Kallon gained massive media coverage and even the BBC reported on it.[32]
Personal life
Kallon is married to his childhood girlfriend M'mah Mansaray, who is a member of the Mandingo ethnic group. The couple celebrated their wedding at the central mosque in Freetown on 15 June 2002.[33] He is also the younger brother of fomer Sierra Leonean international footballers Musa Kallon and Kemokai Kallon. Kallon is muslim and a member of the Mende ethnic group.
References
- ^ "MOHAMMED KALLON" (in Italian). Internazionale. http://www.inter.it/it/speciali/kallon/. Retrieved 2009-08-10.[dead link]
- ^ "Italians bar non-EU imports". UEFA.com. 2002-07-17. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=28321.html. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ "JOINT CONTRACTS: KALLON AND ZANETTI BACK TO INTER". Internazionale. 2001-06-28. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=708. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "SECOND DEGREE TENDON INJURY FOR KALLON". Internazionale. 2002-08-19. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=4364. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "INTER CHIEF OF MEDICAL STAFF ANALYSES INJURIES TO DALMAT, KALLON AND MORFEO". Internazionale. 2003-02-27. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=7639. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Kallon fails drugs test". BBC. 2003-10-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3205113.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ (Italian) Biography from inter.it
- ^ "KALLON Monégasque" (in French). AS Monaco FC. 2004-07-21. http://www.asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=366. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Mohamed Kallon prêté à AL ITTHIAD" (in French). AS Monaco FC. 2005-07-29. http://www.asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=935. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Blues choose not to sign Kallon". BBC. 2007-09-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6982179.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Kallon confirms Derby approach". BBC. 2007-07-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6287398.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Kallon signs for Saudi's Al Hilal". BBC. 2007-11-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7101709.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Kallon's Saudi deal collapses". BBC. 2007-11-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7116683.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "AEK FC signs Mohamed Kallon". AEK FC. 2008-01-29. http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=305&n_id=3869. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ (French) Profile on AS Monaco's website
- ^ "Kallon returns home". BBC. 2009-10-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8313237.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ "新季中超最大牌外援诞生 前国米中锋正式加盟陕西". sina. 2010-03-01. http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2010-03-01/21024864768.shtml. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ^ "Sierra Leone's Mohammed Kallon moves to China". BBC. 2010-03-02. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8544943.stm. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- ^ 西北狼后防送礼卡隆中超首秀进球 陕西1比1平大连(Chinese)
- ^ "Mohammed Kallon set to leave China". BBC. 2010-12-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/9319614.stm. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
- ^ "Kallon quits Leone Stars captaincy". BBC. 2008-10-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7673818.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ a b http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=6057
- ^ RSSSF - African Nations Cup 1996
- ^ RSSSF - African Nations Cup 1996 - Final Tournament Details
- ^ RSSSF - International Matches 2000 - Other
- ^ RSSSF - African Nations Cup 2004
- ^ "Sierra Leone win Peace Trophy". BBC. 2005-06-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4095730.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.[dead link]
- ^ "Togo's Hawks fly high in Group 9". BBC. 2007-03-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6491987.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Sierra Leone defeat Leyton Orient". BBC. 2007-05-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6633185.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ a b "Kallon buys own club". BBC. 2002-08-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2205225.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Kallon Group Foundation
- ^ Kallon offers hope
- ^ "Kallon celebrates his marriage". BBC. 2002-06-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/africans_abroad/2053648.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
External links
- kallon-mohamed {{{last}}} French league stats at LFP.fr (French)
- Mohamed Kallon – FIFA competition record
- Mohamed Kallon at National-Football-Teams.com
Awards Preceded by
Kim Do-HoonAFC Champions League Top Scorer
2005Succeeded by
Magno AlvesSierra Leone squad – 1996 Africa Cup of Nations GK B. Kamara • GK Marah • DF Bah • DF L. Bangura • DF K. Conteh • DF G. Bangura • DF A. Kamara • DF Koroma • DF I. B. Kamara • DF I. Kamara • DF Sama • MF Karim • MF Ah. Kanu • MF M. Kanu • MF Wurie • FW L. Conteh • FW Sessay • FW Mo. Kallon • FW Mu. Kallon • FW Ab. Kanu • FW Sillah • Coach: Palmgren2002-03: Hao Haidong | 2004: Kim Do-Hoon | 2005: Kallon | 2006: Magno Alves | 2007: Mota | 2008: Nantawat Tansopa | 2009: Leandro | 2010: José MotaCategories:- Sierra Leonean footballers
- Sierra Leone international footballers
- 1996 African Cup of Nations players
- AC Lugano players
- Bologna F.C. 1909 players
- Genoa C.F.C. players
- Cagliari Calcio players
- Reggina Calcio players
- Vicenza Calcio players
- F.C. Internazionale Milano players
- AS Monaco FC players
- Ittihad FC players
- AEK Athens F.C. players
- Xian Chanba players
- Swiss Super League players
- Al Shabab Al Arabi Club players
- Serie A footballers
- Serie B footballers
- Ligue 1 players
- Superleague Greece players
- Doping cases in association football
- Sierra Leonean sportspeople in doping cases
- Expatriate footballers in Lebanon
- Expatriate footballers in Sweden
- Expatriate footballers in Switzerland
- Expatriate footballers in Italy
- Expatriate footballers in France
- Expatriate footballers in Saudi Arabia
- Expatriate footballers in Greece
- Expatriate footballers in the United Arab Emirates
- Expatriate footballers in China
- Association football forwards
- Sierra Leonean expatriates in China
- People from Eastern Province, Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leonean Muslims
- 1979 births
- Living people
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.