afc-magazine11

IN FOCUS: BHUTAN
Below
The Other Final
Left &
Bottom Right Against
Sri Lanka
Below New coach
Norio Tsukitate
Bhutan’s first-ever victory at
international level was the
feature of a documentary
titled “The Other Final” as
the second lowest ranked
team in the FIFA rankings
beat Monserrat, the team
sitting one place below
them, on the same day as the 2002 FIFA World
Cup final between Brazil and Germany at the
International Stadium in Yokohama.
But while back-to-back wins over Sri Lanka
some 13 years after that 4-0 victory, which
were for the record Bhutan’s fourth and fifth at
international level from 47 games since joining
FIFA in 2000, did not receive the same focus,
the international press coverage was significant
across numerous football and sport outlets.
And the rise up the FIFA rankings which
followed, and more importantly progress to the
joint qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2018 and
AFC Asian Cup 2019, suggests that Bhutan
might not have to wait another 13 years to
reach double figures in terms of international
victories.
1983
Bhutan Football Federation founded
“The honest truth is that we were not
hopeful; we just told our boys to give up their
all and try their best and make up proud.
Even if they did lose, we told them to limit the
number of goals that we conceded,” says
Bhutan Football Federation President Ugen
Tsechup.
“There was no sense or even thought that
we would beat Sri Lanka, especially because
the first game was away. We thought we
would have a chance in the home game if we
limited the number of goals in Sri Lanka.
“It was a pleasant surprise and in the
moments when we scored that sense of
elation definitely took over. We were proud of
the boys and happy.”
Bhutan’s participation in the first round
of qualifiers, which would determine the six
sides who would progress to complete the
2000
Bhutan Football Federation becomes
affiliated with FIFA
40-team second round, had initially been a
doubt even at the start of the year due to the
financial constraints which had stopped any
previous thoughts of making an earlier debut
in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
They had participated in the AFC Asian
Cup qualifiers previously, although a
20-0 defeat by Kuwait ahead of the 2000
tournament is a result which many from the
country would like to forget.
But after receiving a subsidy from world
governing body FIFA to participate in the
two-legged tie with Sri Lanka, Chokey Nima’s
side headed for Colombo’s Sugathadasa
Stadium in March following a month long
training camp in Thailand for the start of the
road to Russia 2018 and the United Arab
Emirates in 2019 for what would be their first
international fixture since 2013.
“One of the reasons why we haven’t
taken part is that we have always had fund
constraints, and that money in Bhutan could
be used for so many other things rather than
trying to qualify from the first round,” adds
Ugen Tsechup.
“We have not been taking part in the World
Cup qualifiers because of the fund constraints,
but this time we were able to because of the
help and assistance from FIFA as they gave
funds specifically for teams that haven’t been
able to take part before.”
And it proved money well spent as Tshering
Dorji rifled home from inside the penalty
area with eight minutes remaining to hand
20-0
Bhutan lost a 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualifier to
Kuwait
Bhutan a first international victory since
beating Afghanistan 3-1 at the 2008 SAFF
Championship.
More though was to come as Chencho
Gyeltshen, Bhutan’s best-known player having
joined Thailand’s Buriram United, chased down a
long ball over the top less than five minutes
into the second leg at Changlimithang
Stadium before flicking it over the advancing
Sri Lanka goalkeeper from a tight angle.
And despite Sri Lanka equalising
through Subash Madushan from a corner
11 minutes before half-time, Bhutan were
not to be denied and Chencho Gyeltshen
netted a superb second with just over a
minute remaining having earlier had a goal
disallowed to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory.
“On reflection, maybe it would have been
good to have spent that money earlier and
to see if we could have qualified because
what is has done for Bhutan football is
Above Bhutan Football
Federation President Ugen
Tsechup
tremendous,” says Ugen Tsechup.
“Players who didn’t want to play for the
national team or didn’t have time have been
inspired to play following the reaction of the
fans and the amount of enthusiasm it has
created in the youth of Bhutan.
“The team was selected in January this
year and didn’t have time to practice together
and to achieve what they did achieve speaks
for the resolve they have. We hope the more
they play together the more they will improve
and start to understand each other’s game
more.”
Bhutan’s reward, having risen to 163rd in
the FIFA rankings following the back-to-back
AFC QUARTERLY 47