60th Birth Anniversary of Drukgyal Zhipa, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 2015

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China Vs Bhutan on November 12, 2015

A local head coach will lead the Bhutanese squad on November 12 for the game against China at the He Long Stadium in Changsha, Hunan province.

Although Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) has not decided on who should be leading the team, both Chokey Nima and Pema are on the top of the list for the role of the head coach.

There are unofficial reports linking the former Pune FC coach, Karim Bencherifa to be the new coach of Bhutan. However, BFF officials said nothing is confirmed on hiring  new coach.

Chokey Nima, the man who delivered the nation’s first historic win against Sri Lanka in the first round of the World Cup qualifier, may once again head the team against China. The technical director with the federation is currently heading the under-19 national team.

Another option is Pema, the interim head coach who took over the team after the premature departure of the Japanese coach. Pema who gave a new hope to the team during the game against Hong Kong on Tuesday might as well be likely option for the federation.

After the performance of the squad under him that stunned the Hongkongers on the home ground, Pema might once again lead the team in China. He had been serving as the assistant coach during the whole qualification rounds.

Meanwhile, as a gesture of appreciation BFF has announced that each member of the squad would be given a sum of Nu 25,000 each on the “brilliant performance” delivered by the players against Hong Kong. The news was first broken on the federations’ Facebook page after the match.

The team also received a cake from Their Majesties on the eve of Their Majesties’ fourth wedding anniversary on Tuesday.

Source: Kuenselonline

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Bhutan Lost to Hong Kong 0-1 in home ground Changlimethang

Hong Kong Celebrate the Goal

Bhutan was three minutes short of securing its first point in the World Cup qualifiers in their fifth game against Hong Kong at the Changlimithang stadium yesterday.

If the thin air made it difficult for the Hongkongers, the rain that lashed for almost an hour made it difficult for the visitors to suppress the Dragon Boys like they did in the first leg in June. The physically taller and stronger players could not outpace the Bhutanese at home for much part of the game.

Led by a new head coach and skipper, Bhutan played a defensive game for the first 15 minutes.

The match saw equal opportunities created by both the teams to break the deadlock with both sides gaining equal possession of the game.

The strike-duo of Godfred Karikari and James Mckee, who terrorised the Bhutanese defence in June, created some trouble for goalie Hari Gurung in the beginning but Hari was equal to the challenge making some remarkable saves.

However, in the 89th minute, striker Chan Sui Ki’s header from defender Cheung Kin Fung’s corner kick finally broke the stiff Bhutanese resilience and broke the heart of the fans who braved the cold and the rain to cheer their team. Hari has come out to punch the ball to safety, but was too short for Sui Ki who left the keeper punching the cold air.

Bhutan’s interim head coach Pema said that the strategy was to defend for the first 15 minutes and then go on full attack, taking the advantage of the altitude.  “We gave our best today. We wanted to win and dedicate it to Their Majesties on their fourth Royal wedding anniversary,” he said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t win but we gave our best till the end.”

Skipper Karun Gurung said that they adopted “zonal marking”, a defensive strategy where defenders cover an area of the pitch rather than marking a specific opponent. “This strategy worked perfectly until the 89th minute,” he said. “We played typical Bhutanese game, we’ll get back stronger for the next remaining games.”

Hong Kong’s head coach Kim Pan-Gon said that the rain and the high altitude was the main factor that prevented his team from scoring more goals.

“We lost several goal scoring opportunities because of the rain and the cold and small mistakes from our players,” the South Korean coach said. “But we overcame this difficulty and we’re going with three important points.”

The head coach credited the Bhutanese team for their “excellent performance.” He said Bhutan has improved a lot and he admired the attitude and passion of the players. “With more practise, the team will just get better,” he said.

Hong Kong retains its second position in Group C with the 10 points while Bhutan is rooted at the bottom without a point.

Source: Kuenselonline

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Bhutan Head coach Norio wanted to leave BFF

Bhutan Head Coach: Nario Tsukitate

Head coach Norio Tsukitate was released from his duties with effect from yesterday, after a disagreement between the coach and the manager of the team broke midway through the Bhutan-Maldives game on Thursday.

Bhutan Football Federation’s (BFF) president, Ugen Tsechup Dorji said that the expulsion of the Japanese coach by BFF at half time of the game as mentioned in the social networking sites was ‘absolutely untrue.’

The president said that without any prior consultation with the federation the coach decided own his own to leave the team. He said that while he was heading towards the locker room to congratulate the Bhutanese team, he walked into the Japanese coach who was bidding farewell to the players.

“It came to me as a surprise when I saw the coach wishing the players good luck for their future and saying that he was leaving,” the president said.

Ugen Tsechup Dorji said that it is ‘totally unacceptable’ in any profession, to step back from your responsibility midway through an important task. “You are the national coach of the team, it is your responsibility for the better or worst, to be there with the team till the end,” he said. “If he had some issues with management, that is to be left after the game was over. As a professional person he had to see the game through.”

Meanwhile, coach Norio who was at his residence saddened by the incident, told Kuensel that he was asked to leave by the manager of the team after they had an argument. “The vice-president of the federation told me to leave, that is official enough for me to leave the team,” said the coach. “As the head coach I have the control of the game, change players and positions, Hishey was trying to take over my responsibility.”

The coach said that although he did not receive any letter from BFF on his eviction, he said after taking to the Japan Football Association (JFA) on the whole matter, the association have asked him to return. “I have no work here, there is no more training, I’ll return to my family soon,” he said.

The head coach defended his team selection and player positions in the game against Maldives. Tshering Dorji, a midfielder in the squad was put in the front on Thursday. “Tshering is weak on defence, I thought if I placed him in the strike he would have to only control the ball and shoot, which he is good at,” said that coach.

The coach added that Karma Shedrup Tshering was not put in the first 11 because of his busy schedule. The former skipper who is also a pilot with the national airlines couldn’t make it for most of the practise sessions with the team said that coach. “Hishey was insisting me on putting Karma in, I believe they are family,” he said.

However, the president said that as the head coach, he had the control over the team and whether to listen to the manager’s suggestions was solely on him. “It’s how you take it, nobody can order the head coach during the course of the match, he’s the in-charge of the game,” he said.

He also added that there’s a distinct difference in the role of the manager and the vice-president. “Hishey Tshering was there not as the vice-president of the federation but as the manager of the team,” he said. “The verbal order that might have exchanged between the two during the game was not an official order, its just an excuse he had used.”

BFF’s general secretary, Ugyen Wangchhuk said that the general public have the notion that the federation fired the coach but in reality he himself wanted to leave. “We could have sorted the problem in a much better way had he informed us about the problem, instead he decided to remain silent and took the decision himself. This clearly shows he wanted to go,” said the GS.

One of the players on the squad said players had developed a good understanding with the coach. “He was a good coach and we learned a lot,” he said. “But nothing is important than the team, BFF might have taken this decision for the betterment of the team.”

Meanwhile, the Japan Football association wants to study the case in detail.

Norio Tsukitate is the fourth Japanese coach who was sent through a memorandum of understanding between BFF and JFA. The 55-year-old coach took over the national team in March this year.

For the game against Hong Kong on October 13, assistant coach Pema will be taking in-charge of the Bhutanese team.

Source: Kuenselonline

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Bhutan beated by Maldives 4-3 in World Cup Qualifiers

Tshering Dorji, in the 83rd minute took advantage of a chaos inside the penalty box. A thumping shot into an empty post opened the score sheet for the Dragon boys. The suit followed after three minutes when Chencho Gyeltshen, running past the Maldivian defenders, sent a low attempt to the back of the net. The third goal was scored by Biren Basnet when Chencho’s attempt rebounded after hitting the woodwork.

Despite Bhutan’s impressive performance and ending the team’s goal drought, Bhutan could not end its losing streak in the world cup qualifier.

The Maldives emerged triumphant over Bhutan by 4 goals to 3.

Bhutan conceded early goal as usual. The Maldives scored the first goal in 11 minutes. They further stretched their lead in 23rd and 33rd minutes without any reply from the Bhutanese side in the first half.

A goal converted from penalty in the second half by the Maldives seemed to have extinguished Bhutan’s hope for comeback. But the drama unfolded towards the end of the second half as Bhutan rattled the Maldives defense and scored three goals within seven minutes.

Bhutan’s desperately tried to equalize the match in the last minute but the Maldives resisted Bhutan’s attack till the final whistle of the game.

Source: BBS

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Bhutan will play against Maldives Today

Bhutan will try to break its duck against Maldives today at the Changlimethang and record the first win in the World Cup qualifiers.

Bhutan had played Maldives, commonly known as Red Snappers, but have never registered a win against the island nation. “We played against them for two to three times and lost all,” a senior Bhutanese international, Passang Tshering said. “But today should be our best opportunity because all our players in form,” he said.

The Maldivian squad arrived in the country yesterday, which was quickly followed by a practice session.

Bhutan’s head coach Norio Tsukitate, in a pre-match press conference yesterday said his players are improving day by day. “The advantage of having young players on the team is that they are constantly evolving with each match,” he said.

Maldives’ new head coach, Ricki Herbert, who took the New Zealand national team into the 2010 World Cup, is expecting an exciting match since both teams placed are at the bottom of the group.

“We’re still in the process of knowing each other. We had our first practise session on Tuesday in Kolkata,” he said. “We’re determined and remain positive about the game despite the short time we spent together.”

“It’s an international game, we expect it to be exciting not only for the players but also to the fans watching,” he said.

Ricki Herbert said his team has developed respect for team Bhutan who is growing in the international front.

Source: Kuenselonline

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Bhutan, Bangladesh match ends in a draw

Bhutan’s forward, Sonam Tobgay scored the goal into the sixth minute of the game. Bangladesh, who had beaten Sri Lanka 2-0 in their group opener, pressed hard to find an equaliser, but could score only at the 77^th minute.

In the group’s A final fixtures, Bhutan will face Sri Lanka and host country Bangladesh against Uzbekistan, tomorrow.

The matches are being played at Bangabandhu National Stadium, in Dhaka.

Source: bbs.com.bt

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Bhutan's biggest football tournament

With 47 teams and 752 players, Yuljong Nationwide Open football tournament, Thimphu qualifiers, is by far the biggest tournament in the country.

The tournament that began on August 20 in Thimphu is a special dedication from football enthusiasts in the country on the occasion of the 60th birth anniversary of The Fourth King.

Jointly organised by Paro Yuljong Futsal Club and Kawajangsa FC, the tournament aims to bring all the dzongkhags together through the game of football. One of the organiser, Karun Gurung of Paro Yuljong said that the plan is to conduct the final game of the tournament on November 11.

The Thimphu qualifiers of the tournament have entered its knockout stage where 16 teams have moved into the elimination round. However, only four teams from Thimphu will move on into the final knockout tournament. The Thimphu qualifiers resumes right after the World Cup qualifiers against Maldives and Hong Kong on October 8 and 13 respectively.

Open invitations have been sent to all the other dzongkhags to take part in the final tournament that will begin from October 20 at the Changlimithang stadium. Registration date is open till October 10 for the teams outside Thimphu.

“We’ll take in all the teams who would like to take part in the tournament to make it more grand and eventful,” said Karun Gurung. “We’re expecting maximum participation this time since it’s a very special occasion for the country and it’s people.”

In order to provide equal opportunities to all the participating teams, the organisers have decided to allow only one seeded player (national and club) in the team. This decision was also taken to provide openings for those individuals with talents but who remained unnoticed because of limited opportunities, said the organisers.

The tournament till date has recorded 734 goals in one month. Paro Yuljong FC of Group B have scored the highest of 43 goals. Teams are divided into eight groups of five each.

The winners of the tournament will take home a trophy, medals and a cash prize of Nu 200,000 and the runners up will get Nu 100,000.

Source: Kuenselonline

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