Nabib Newaj Jibon Explained

Nabib Newaj Jibon
Fullname:Nabib Newaj Jibon
Birth Date:17 August 1990
Birth Place:Bogura, Bangladesh
Position:Striker, Attacking Midfielder
Currentclub:Abahani Limited Dhaka
Clubnumber:10
Years1:2010–2013
Clubs1:Uttar Baridhara
Caps1:33
Goals1:16
Years2:2013–2015
Clubs2:Team BJMC
Caps2:27
Goals2:5
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Mohammedan SC (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2016–
Clubs4:Abahani Limited Dhaka
Caps4:95
Goals4:37
Club-Update:21 July 2023
Nationalyears1:2016–2019
Nationalteam1:Bangladesh U23 (OA)
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears2:2015–
Nationalteam2:Bangladesh
Nationalcaps2:32
Nationalgoals2:5
Ntupdate:29 March 2022

Nabib Newaj Jibon (Bengali: নাবিব নেওয়াজ জীবন; born 17 August 1990) is a Bangladeshi professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bangladesh Premier League club Abahani Limited Dhaka and the Bangladesh national team.

Club career

Early career

Jibon's career started in 2006, when he played the JFA Cup U-16 tournament. His performance during the competition earned him a place in the three-month-long Bangladesh U-17 national camp. However, he could not make it to the final squad. In 2007, he made his Pioneer League debut with Noakhali Football Academy and finished the season as top scorer with 11 goals. The following year he played in the Second Division with Ashulia-based Gazir Char Club, but his time there did not go well as the club didn't have enough players to compete for promotion. Jibon then roamed all over the country to display his skills at different district leagues, including Khulna, and also in Chittagong, with Chittagong Mohammedan SC in 2009.[1]

In 2010, Jibon made his First Division debut with Uttar Baridhara Club. In 2012 the Bangladesh Championship League was introduced, as the country's professional second-tier league, and after finishing runners up in the league in 2013, Uttar Baridhara was promoted to the Bangladesh Premier League. Jibon was an integral part of the team, scoring 12 goals in just 13 matches.[2] He attracted the interest of many topflight clubs after that season and ended up joining Team BJMC. On 25 June 2014, he scored his first Premier League goal coming in a 2–2 with Mohammedan SC.[3] During his second year he managed to get 4 goals and 10 assists out of 18 matches. He also spent time on loan at Mohammedan SC in 2015, for the 2015 Sheikh Kamal International Cup, the same year he made his Bangladesh national team debut.[4]

Abahani Limited Dhaka

On 1 January 2017, Jibon got his big move to Dhaka giants Abahani Limited Dhaka, under coach György Kottán. He won the league title during his second year at the club. His first two seasons at the club, Jibon managed to get limited game time, with foreign strikers occupying the forward line. However, after the appointment of Mário Lemos, during the 2018–19 season, Jibon was converted into a false nine, behind striking duo- Sunday Chizoba and Kervens Belfort. He thrived while playing in the new position, scoring 16 goals and attaining 6 assists during the league season.[5] His best performance that season came against Rahmatganj MFS, when he managed to score a hattrick.[6] The 2019 AFC Cup saw Abahani become the first Bangladeshi club to reach the knockouts of the competition. Jibon scored twice during the group stages, and his goals against Minerva Punjab also earned him AFC recognition.[7] During the knockout match against North Korean side April 25 SC, Jibon also found the net as Abahani won the game 4–3.[8]

International career

On 13 October 2015, Jibon made his senior debut against Kyrgyzstan during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. On 8 January 2018, he scored his first international goal against Sri Lanka during the 2016 Bangabandhu Cup.

Personal life

Jibon was born in Shibganj Upazila of Bogra District. His grandfather, Aftab Hossain Mondal, was a footballer who played for both Mohun Bagan and Kalighat Milan Sangha FC in the Calcutta Football League during the British regime. His uncle Shahinur Kabir Shimul represented the Bangladesh national football team during the 1986 Asian Games.[9] In 2021, Jibon was stranded in India after undergoing surgery on his right knee during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was able to return to Bangladesh with the help of India national football team player Pritam Kotal and his wife, Sonel Paul.[10] [11]

Career statistics

Club

[12]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Uttar Baridhara Club2012Bangladesh Championship League114114
2013Bangladesh Championship League12131213
Team BJMC2013–14Bangladesh Premier League91000091
2014–15Bangladesh Premier League18420204
Team BJMC total275290000275
Abahani Limited Dhaka2016Bangladesh Premier League135500050235
2017–18Bangladesh Premier League214523160357
2018–19Bangladesh Premier League24164000833619
2019–20Bangladesh Premier League623220114
2020–21Bangladesh Premier League104050
2021–22Bangladesh Premier League175425210279
2022–23Bangladesh Premier League1353030195
2023–24Bangladesh Premier League0000110011
Abahani Limited Dhaka total953728612422315750
Career total1455930612422320972
Notes

International

Bangladesh National Team
YearAppsGoals
201550
201682
201700
201850
201992
202031
202220
Total325

International goals

Olympic Team

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 9 February 2016 SAI Centre, Paltan Bazaar1–1 1–1 2016 South Asian Games
2. 11 February 2016 SAI Centre, Paltan Bazaar2–1 2–1 2016 South Asian Games
3. 15 February 2016 Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai1–0 2(5)-(4)2 2016 South Asian Games

National Team

Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 8 January 2016 3–1 4–2 2016 Bangabandhu Cup
2. 18 March 2016 1–1 1–6 Friendly
3. 29 September 2019 1–0 4–1
4. align=center 2–0
5. 13 November 2020 1–0 2–0

Honours

Abahani Limited Dhaka

Bangladesh U23

Notes and References

  1. News: Hoque . Shishir . 27 September 2019 . A fascinating story of a footballer who went from rags to riches . Dhaka Tribune.
  2. Web site: ফুটবল খেলেই ভালো আছি, কোনো আফসোস নেই: জীবন. Jugantor.
  3. News: Hoque . Shishir . 26 June 2014 . Wahed rescues a point for Mohammedan. Dhaka Tribune.
  4. Web site: 'চুরি করে ফুটবল খেলতাম'. bn. Prothomalo.
  5. Web site: বিদেশিদের ভিড়ে উজ্জ্বল জীবন. bn. Samakal.
  6. Web site: Jibon hat-trick inspires five-star Abahani. February 3, 2019. Dhaka Tribune.
  7. Web site: Jibon’s flick gets AFC recognition. New Age.
  8. Web site: Dhaka Abahani beat N Korea’s April 25 SC in AFC Cup. Prothomalo.
  9. Web site: নাবিব নেওয়াজের অনুপ্রেরণা মোহনবাগানে খেলা তার দাদা. 15 November 2020. bn. Jago News 24.
  10. Web site: কলকাতার ‘দিদি’র কাছে ঋণী বাংলাদেশের নাবিব. April 27, 2021. Prothomalo.
  11. Web site: ভারতের মেয়ের বাংলাদেশের জার্সিপ্রেম. bn. April 17, 2022. Prothomalo.
  12. Web site: Bangladesh – N. Newaj Jibon – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway. 19 December 2015.