Rohit Chand

Nepalese footballer

Rohit Chand

Chand with Nepal in 2017

Personal information
Full name|  Rohit Chand Thakuri
Date of birth|  (1992-03-01) 1 March 1992 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth|  Dailekh, Nepal
Height|  1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)|  Defensive midfielder
Team information

Current team

|  Persik Kediri
Number|  32
Youth career
2005–2008|  ANFA Academy
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2009–2010|  Machhindra|  34|  (2)
2010–2012|  HAL|  38|  (4)
2012–2013|  PSPS Pekanbaru|  15|  (0)
2013–2015|  Persija Jakarta|  46|  (6)
2016|  T-Team|  0|  (0)
2017|  Manang Marshyangdi|  9|  (0)
2017–2022|  Persija Jakarta|  119|  (10)
2022–|  Persik Kediri|  55|  (3)
International career‡
2009–2010|  Nepal U19|  34|  (2)
2014–2018|  Nepal U23|  5|  (0)
2009–|  Nepal|  90|  (0)

Medal record

Men's football
Representing  Nepal
SAFF Championship
Runner-up |  2021 Maldives |

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 February 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

Rohit Chand Thakuri (Nepali: रोहित चन्द; born 1 March 1992) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Liga 1 club Persik Kediri and the Nepal national team.[2] During his teenage years, Chand was heavily linked to clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham, and Lille.[3] Chand was awarded The Best Player of The Year in Liga 1 2018 (the highest level of Indonesia football competition) as well as becoming champion with Persija Jakarta.[4]

## Early years[edit]

Rohit Chand Thakuri was born in Dailekh, Nepal. He started playing football at the age of eight with his brother Rabin Chand Thakuri, who is also a semi-professional footballer. At the age of 13, he was selected for ANFA academy.[5] Chand's tour of Iran with the U-16 national team in 2008 was the turning point of his career. At the age of 16, Chand was called up to the senior national team even though he had not played any games at the club and U-19 level. This allowed Chand to propel his professional football career quickly in Nepal.[6]

## Club career[edit]

### Machhindra F.C.[edit]

Chand's first professional club in Nepal's top flight was Machhindra. Chand's play had brought him four Man of the Match awards during the league campaign and his play at the back had been one of the highlights of Machhindra's season. The young stopper has led a defense that doesn't leak too many goals, but he also can be a threat moving up the pitch. Chand had shown his leadership qualities and captained Machhindra. He was awarded best defender of the year award for his spectacular play during the 2067B.S.(2010–11) league season.[7] Machhindra also reached the semifinals of the British Gurkha Cup that season.[8]

Chand training with HAL in 2011

### Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC[edit]

On 2 January 2012, it was reported that Chand had signed a 6-month contract with the club after trying his luck in Europe.[9][10] In April, Chand scored a hat-trick in I-League match but despite his efforts his team went on to lose the match. And his efforts were not enough to prevent HAL from relegation in the I-League. His contract at HAL expired in 2012 after they were relegated from the top tier of I-League.

### PSPS Pekanbaru[edit]

Rohit Chand gave a trial at Indonesia Liga side Arema where he was able to give an average performance, although he was not selected by the team.[11] Later he was signed by another Indonesian side PSPS Pekanbaru on a 10 months.[12]

### Persija Jakarta[edit]

In May 2013 he signed a 5-month contract with the Indonesian side Persija Jakarta in the Indonesia Super League.[13] He was then nominated for the Young player of the year award for the same season in the Indonesian league.[14] After his best performance. He has signed new two year contract with club and Rohit will be staying in Persija Jakarta till end of 2022.[15]

### FC Vestsjælland[edit]

Rohit has trained with the club for more than one and half months until 25 December 2013. He was offered with 6 months contract for reserved team as like Indian Goalkeeper Subrata Pal. Rohit's Manager Rabindra Chand denied the offer and placed Rohit to ISL club.

### T-Team[edit]

Rohit signed a year deal with Malaysian Outfit T-Team in January 2016.[16]

### Return to Persija Jakarta[edit]

After a brief spell for local Nepalese club Manang Marshyangdi, it was announced that Chand had returned to Indonesian club, Persija Jakarta.[17]

### Persik Kediri[edit]

After end contract with Persija Jakarta. he sign with another Indonesian club, Persik Kediri.

## International career[edit]

Chand is the youngest player to play the full senior level tournament for Nepal, making his debut on 23 March 2009 (17 years 22 days) against Palestine[18] in the AFC which was later broke by Bimal Gharti Magar. He also made many appearances in different age groups (U-17 and U-19 age).[5] Rohit was named the vice-captain of the national team in 2015.

## Honours[edit]

Persija Jakarta

* Liga 1: 2018[19]
* Indonesia President's Cup: 2018[20]
* Menpora Cup: 2021[21]

Nepal

* Three Nations Cup: 2021
* SAFF Championship runner-up: 2021

Individual

* Special Award of the Year – Pulsar NSJF Sports Award (Nepal): 2019
* Liga 1 Best Player: 2018[4]
* Liga 1 Best XI: 2018[22]
* Martyr's Memorial A-Division League Best Defender: 2010
* Three Nations Cup: Best Player: 2021[23]
* Menpora Cup Best Eleven: 2021[24]

## Personal life[edit]

Chand hails from Birendra Nagar in Surkhet District. His idol is Paolo Maldini.[25] Aside from football Chand is also an avid reader and enjoys novels, and also loves pets having a dog named Roger.[26]

## References[edit]

1. ^ FIFA.com
2. ^ "Chand Nepal's highest paid footballer in the world". eKantipur. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
3. ^ "Kettering beat Arsenal and Spurs in race for Nepal star". 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
4. ^ a b "Rohit Chand awarded most valuable player of Indonesia's Liga 1". The Himalayan Times. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
5. ^ a b "The One Game, One World Interview: Rohit Chand". 27 April 2010.
6. ^ "A star in the making: interview with Nepal international sensation Rohit Chand". AsianOceanFootball. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
7. ^ "Rohit Chand best defender". 19 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
8. ^ "Rohit send MFC into semifinals". 11 January 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
9. ^ "A star in the making: interview with Nepal international sensation Rohit Chand". AsianOceanFootball. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
10. ^ "Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC » Players from A–Z". WorldFootball.net. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
11. ^ "Rohit Chand Scribbled off Arema, Can select other team". 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
12. ^ "BREAKING NEWS! Rohit Chand Officially signs for PSPS Pekanbaru". 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
13. ^ "Resmi! Rohit Chand Bergabung Dengan Persija Jakarta -". 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
14. ^ "Rohit Chand Nominated for Young Player of the Year". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
15. ^ "Nepal's Rohit Chand signs contract with Indonesia's Persija Jakarta". The Himalayan Times. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
16. ^ "Rohit signs for T-Team".[permanent dead link]
17. ^ "Rohit Chand Resmi Kembali Berseragam Persija". CNN Indonesia. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
18. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Chand, Rohit". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
19. ^ "Persija Juara Liga 1 2018". detik. 9 December 2018. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
20. ^ "Tumbangkan Bali United, Persija Juarai Piala Presiden 2018". kompas. 17 February 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
21. ^ Ridwa, Muhammad (25 April 2021). "Persija Jakarta Juara Piala Menpora 2021". goal.com. Goal. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
22. ^ "Tim Terbaik Go-Jek Liga 1 2018". liga-indonesia.id. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
23. ^ "Rohit Chand Is Adjudged The MVP". Goal Nepal. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
24. ^ "Persija Mendominasi Semua Lini, Ini Best XI Resmi Piala Menpora 2021". bolalob.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
25. ^ "Rohit Chand Profile". GoalNepal.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
26. ^ "Rohit Chand: I Have No Plan To Naturalize Myself". GoalNepal.com. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.

## External links[edit]

* Official Website
* Rohit Chand at National-Football-Teams.com

* v
* t
* e

Liga 1 best players

* 2008–09: Boaz
* 2009–10: Meiga
* 2010–11: Boaz
* 2011–12: Gumbs
* 2013: Boaz
* 2014: Sinaga
* 2017: Paulo Sérgio
* 2018: Chand
* 2019: Renan
* 2021–22: Marukawa
* 2022–23: Pluim

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template