kˈɑːnən ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪnðə bˈædə ˈɛɹiə ʌv dˈɑːkə, ænd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn, hiː stˈɑːɹɾᵻd plˈeɪɪŋ ɪnðə paɪənˈɪɹ fˈʊtbɔːl lˈiːɡ wɪð nˈæviːn kɹˈiəɹə tʃˈækɹə, wˌɪtʃ ɪz nˈaʊ bˈædə dʒˌæɡoːɹˈoʊni.
Kanan grew up in the Badda area of Dhaka, and in 1979, he started playing in the Pioneer Football League with Naveen Krira Chakra, which is now Badda Jagoroni.