Laken Limbu
{{Short description|Nepalese international footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Laken Limbu
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Laken Limbu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|7|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Singapore
| height = 1.77 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2019–2021
| youthclubs1 = Jhapa
| years1 = 2021
| clubs1 = Jhapa
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2023
| clubs2 = Three Star Club
| caps2 = 34
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = → Machhindra (loan)
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2024
| clubs4 = Church Boys United
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 = 2024–2025
| clubs5 = Delhi FC
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2025
| clubs6 = Jhapa
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2023–
| nationalteam1 = Nepal
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| pcupdate =
| ntupdate =
}}
Laken Limbu (born 24 July 2002) is a Nepalese professional footballer, currently playing as a midfielder for the Nepal national team.
Early life
Born in Singapore, Laken joined in the F17 Football Academy at the age of 12.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamrokhelkud.net/lively-laken-earns-maiden-nepal-callup/|title=Lively Laken|date=9 June 2023 |publisher=hamrokhelkud.net|access-date=2023-07-28|archive-date=2024-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916123847/https://www.hamrokhelkud.net/lively-laken-earns-maiden-nepal-callup/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://gorkhalifootball.com/lakens-dream-comes-true-as-he-earns-spot-in-nepal-national-football-team/|title=aken Limbu's Dream Comes True|date=11 June 2023 |publisher=gorkhalifootball.com|access-date=2023-06-21|archive-date=2023-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621070108/https://gorkhalifootball.com/lakens-dream-comes-true-as-he-earns-spot-in-nepal-national-football-team/|url-status=live}} After three years, he started training with the ANZA Soccer Academy.{{Cite web|url=https://anza.org.sg/2021/11/09/anza-soccer-a-league-of-their-own/|title=Laken Limbu article|website=anza.org.sg|date=9 November 2021 |access-date=2023-07-28|archive-date=2023-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728212140/https://anza.org.sg/2021/11/09/anza-soccer-a-league-of-their-own/|url-status=live}} During his time in Singapore, Laken participated in football tournaments in Sweden, Malaysia, and Spain, and also played in the Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2078 in Nepal.{{Cite web|url=http://goalnepal.com/province_1/news/11468|title=Jhapa FC Signs Singapore Based Nepalese Player For C Qualifiers|website=GoalNepal|access-date=2023-06-23|archive-date=2023-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623075304/https://goalnepal.com/province_1/news/11468|url-status=live}}
Club career
In early 2021, Laken moved to Nepal permanently, joining third division club Jhapa in the C-Division League qualifiers.
= Three Star Club =
In September 2021, Laken signed with Nepal top tier club Three Star Club and in his first A-Division League season, he featured in eight matches and started. With a total playing time of 405 minutes, Laken made one assist. He played the full 90 minutes twice, against Sankata Boys and Nepal Police Club. He played 26 games in his second season, registering 3 goals and 4 assists. His performances earned him a callup to the Nepal national team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamrokhelkud.com/en/lively-laken-earns-maiden-nepal-callup/|title=Lively Laken earns maiden Nepal callup|date=June 9, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://gorkhalifootball.com/lakens-dream-comes-true-as-he-earns-spot-in-nepal-national-football-team/|title=Laken Limbu's Dream Comes True as He Earns Spot in Nepal National Football Team|first=Gorkhali|last=Football|date=June 11, 2023|website=GorkhaliFootball.com|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-date=June 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621070108/https://gorkhalifootball.com/lakens-dream-comes-true-as-he-earns-spot-in-nepal-national-football-team/|url-status=live}}
== Loan to Machhindra ==
In August 2023, Laken signed with Machhindra on a month loan deal. He make his debut in the 2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs against Bhutanese club Paro.
= Church Boys United =
On 1 February 2024, Laken signed with Church Boys United.
= Delhi =
On 15 September 2024, Limbu signed his first overseas professional contract with Indian club Delhi and will be playing for the club in the I-League. {{Cite web |last=Football |first=Gorkhali |date=2024-09-16 |title=Footballer Laken Limbu Joins Delhi FC for I-League 2024/25 • Gorkhali Football |url=https://gorkhalifootball.com/footballer-laken-limbu-joins-delhi-fc-for-i-league-2024-25/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=gorkhalifootball.com |language=en-US}} His moved was a success after a Singapore-based agency, Rookbook Sports help to smoothen the transfer for him to Delhi.
International career
On 15 June 2023, Laken made his international debut for Nepal in a friendly loss to the Philippines.{{Cite web|url=https://gorkhalifootball.com/laken-limbu-debut-match-for-nepal-against-philippines/|title=Laken Limbu - Debut Match for Nepal against Philippines|first=Gorkhali|last=Football|date=June 16, 2023|website=GorkhaliFootball.com|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916124819/https://gorkhalifootball.com/laken-limbu-debut-match-for-nepal-against-philippines/|url-status=live}} He was also part of the main squad for the 2023 SAFF Championship.{{cite news|title=ANFA announces national team for SAFF Championship|url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2023/08/306718/|access-date=9 June 2023|publisher=khabarhub.com|date=8 June 2023|archive-date=9 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609075836/https://english.khabarhub.com/2023/08/306718/|url-status=live}}
On 21 March 2025, Laken played in a friendly match against his birth country, Singapore at the Singapore National Stadium where he was applause by the Singaporean fans after the final whistle.{{Cite web |title= Born in Singapore, Laken Limbu returns with Nepal looking to pull an upset over the Lions|work=The Straits Times |date=20 March 2025 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/born-in-singapore-laken-limbu-returns-with-nepal-looking-to-upset-the-lions}}
Personal life
Laken was born in Singapore where his father was serving as the Gurkha Contingent in the Singapore Police Force at the point of time where he resides inside Mount Vernon Camp. He attended several local school like Cedar Primary School and Serangoon Garden Secondary School. After his father's service in Singapore ended, he returned to Nepal.
Style of play
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !rowspan=2|Division !colspan=2|League !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Three Star Club
|Martyr's Memorial A-Division League |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022-23
|Martyr's Memorial A-Division League |26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| colspan=2|Three Star Club Total
!34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
=International=
{{updated|21 June 2023.}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center | ||
| colspan=3|Nepal national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan=1|Total||2||0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|laken-limbu/912294}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Limbu, Laken}}
Category:People from Singapore
Category:Nepalese men's footballers
Category:Nepal men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Footballers at the 2018 Asian Games
Category:Martyr's Memorial A-Division League players
Category:Nepalese expatriate men's footballers
Category:Nepalese expatriate sportspeople in India