Saru Limbu (Nepali: सरु लिम्बु; born 6 March 1999) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Nepali national team. She has played for the Indian Women's League club Kickstart FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 6, 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Morang | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2022 | Nepal A.P.F. Club | (20) | |
| 2021 | Masha United | 4 | (19) |
| 2023 | Kickstart | 7 | (6) |
| International career | |||
| 2016– | Nepal | 20 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editGrowing up in her hometown in Morang District, Limbu used to watch local football matches, and her friends and cousins influenced her to play football. Her talent was noticed by a teacher who contacted football coach Bikram Dhimal. After watching her play, Dhimal coached the team at Pathari Shanishchare-7, Kirtipur (Bal Kalyan School Ground) where she joined the local New Star Club, Kirtipur. New Star Club and the club organizers Diwas Limbu and Biroj Magar were the god fathers of Saru because this club has initiated lady football tournaments in a remote village (Kirtipur) at that time. New Star Club has won ANFA U-15 woman football with Saru’s team. Many national players are produced by this club. Playing for New Star she attracted the attention of bigger clubs including Nepal A.P.F. Club.[1]
Club career
editIn 2016, APF offered her a contract. Initially, Limbu's family did not want her to go, but, as it was a departmental team where she would have more than just a football job, her family agreed. When she joined APF, key players such as Anu Lama and Sajana Rana were injured, so Limbu got an immediate chance to play. After a dominant performance in the Chief of Army Staff Cup, she was called up to Nepal women's national football team.[1] After consistently performing well at club level and in closed camps, she was selected for Nepal's squad for the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship.[1]
In March 2021, Limbu was one of four Nepal national team players recruited to play in the 2021 edition of Pakistan's National Women Football Championship, for Masha United in Karachi.[2][3] The side finished top of its group, scoring 60 goals in four matches.[4] These included a 19-0 win over Sialkot (Limbu scoring 10 goals),[5] a 4-0 triumph over Higher Education Commission,[6] a 35-0 victory over Karachi (Limbu again scoring 10),[7] and a 2-2 draw with Karachi United. They reached the semi-finals before the tournament was cancelled.[8]
She returned to play in Nepal's domestic league for Nepal A.P.F. Club.
International career
editIn 2018, Limbu captained Nepal's under-18 women's team at the SAFF U-18 Championship in Bhutan.[9]
| Year | Tournament | Team | Host Country | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | SAFF Championship[10] | Nepal National Team | India | |
| 2016 | South Asian Games[11] | Nepal National Team | India | Silver Medal |
| 2016 | Friendlies: Nepal VS Malaysia | Nepal National Team | Nepal | |
| 2018 | SAFF U-18 Championship | Nepal National Team | Bhutan | Second |
| 2018 | Olympic Qualification | Nepal National Team | Thailand | |
| 2018 | Olympic Qualification | Nepal National Team | Myanmar | |
| 2018 | Friendly Match | Nepal National Team | Hong Kong | |
| 2018 | Friendly Match | Nepal National Team | China | |
| 2019 | Gold Cup | Nepal National Team | India | Second |
| 2019 | Friendly Match | Nepal National Team | Barahin | |
| 2019 | NSZADA Cup | Nepal National Team | Kyzatistan | |
| 2019 | South Asian Games | Nepal National Team | Nepal | Silver Medal |
| 2021 | Friendlies: Nepal VS Bangladesh | Nepal National Team | Nepal | |
| 2021 | AFC Asian Cup | Nepal National Team | Uzbekistan | |
| 2024 | SAFF Women's Championship | Nepal National Team | Nepal | Silver Medal |
International goals
edit- As of match played on 21 October 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | |||
| 2021 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | ||
- Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Limbu goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 September 2022 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |  Sri Lanka |
2–0 | 6–0 | 2022 SAFF Women's Championship |
Honours
editKickstart
- Indian Women's League runner-up: 2022–23[12][13]
Individual
| Year | Tournament | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2072 | COAS International Women Football Tournament | Best Midfielder |
| 2078 | Chief Minister BYC Women Gold Cup | Best Midfielder |
| 2021 | National Women League | Most Valuable Player[14] |
References
edit- ^ a b c diwakar (2021-02-26). "Saru Limbu began playing football barefoot. Today, she has a bigger dream for her nation - OnlineKhabar English News". Retrieved 2022-06-29.
- ^ "We will return to Pakistan with the pride of Nepal: Saru Limbu". MakaluKhabar. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ National Women’s Football Championship set to kick off amid Covid cloud Umaid Wasim 9 March 2021 Dawn Retrieved 9 March 2021
- ^ National Women’s Football Championship Due To Start Tomorrow Fida Husnain 8 March 2021 Retrieved 09 March 2021
- ^ Wasim, Umaid (2021-03-10). "Lop-sided victories as national women's football kicks off". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ^ Sports, A. R. Y. (2021-03-20). "Masha beat HEC to win second game in National Women's Football Championship". ARYSports.tv. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ^ "Masha United whip Karachi Women FC 35-0". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ^ "Karachi United, Highlanders club withdraw from National Women Football Championship ahead of semi-finals". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ^ "Nepal U18 Skipper Saru Limbu: Our Preparation Has Been Good". GoalNepal. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ WSU (2016-12-23). "SAFF Women's Championship 2016". Womens Soccer United. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
- ^ "Indian Women win Gold in South Asian Games". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
- ^ "Gokulam Kerala steamroll Kickstart to complete hat-trick of Hero IWL titles". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Indian Women's League 2023: Gokulam Kerala thrash Kickstart FC 5–0 to win third consecutive title". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "APF's Saru Limbu is the best player in the women's league". Himal Sanchar. Retrieved 29 June 2022.