National football team selected

9 March 2010

The Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) has selected 25 players to form the national team this year. The selection camp was held from February 23 to 26 at Changlingmithang and Changjiji ground in Thimphu.

Forty-two football players from across the country attended the camp.

The current national players and players of under-23 and under-19 battled for coveted 25-man national squad.

The selection team comprised technical director, Mindu Dorji, Chuki Nima, youth head coach, Dinesh Chettri, competition officer, Jigme N Norbu and Coach Dorji Khandu.

The players were rated and evaluated on the basis of their game performances and physical fitness which considered speed, strength, agility and flexibility.

The team has an average age of 22 years with 27 and 17 years being the eldest and the youngest respectively. The team will be representing the nation in various tournaments in 2010.

The selection committee said there was a stiff competition among the players and it was hard to select. “There will be a blend of old and young talents in the team and I am hoping the team will perform a lot better in the coming tournaments since the level and performance has been improving every year,’’ said Coach Dorji Khandu.

Nima Sangay, who has been playing for the national team since 2007, said young players from under-23 and under-19 were skilled and promising.

“I am hoping to be selected but if it happens otherwise I will have no regrets since someone better than me will be in the squad helping the national team in my place,’’ he said.

BFF will release the names of selected players in the coming week.

By Karma Pelden

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