Paro FC to face Druk Stars FC

Thinley Namgay 

Defending champions Paro FC will play Thimphu-based Druk Stars FC at the Woochu Sports Arena in Paro in the opening game of the 2020 BoB Bhutan Premier League (BPL) at 3pm today.

BPL which was supposed to begin after the Bhutan Super League season which completed on March 21 was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, participating teams began training following the government’s decision to lift the ban imposed on sports activities since March.

Paro FC’s skipper Jigme Tshering Dorjee said that the team is ready for this season.

“Although we have no foreign players in the squad, the eight national players we have would make a difference in the game today,” he said. “But the match would be competitive since it’s among domestic players and also because Druk Stars FC has very young players.”

Paro FC’s dominance in the last season was also attributed to its four international players-three from Cameroon and another one from Sikkim, India. As the national league winners, club also took part in the AFC qualifiers against Defenders FC of Sri Lanka and Bengaluru FC of India last year.

In an earlier interview, Paro FC’s technical director and head coach, Puspalal Sharma said that every team has an equal chance to win the league this year.

Druk Stars’ coordinator Ngawang Jampel said that today’s game would be tough as his team is facing the defending champions in their home ground.

“My team has no national players. Moreover, all the players are young, and only a few have featured in the past BPL seasons.”

“We will give our best,” said Ngawang Jampel, adding that the BPL matches within the domestic players would showcase the standard of Bhutanese football clubs. “People will understand where we have reached so far in terms of technique and tactics.”

The game would be streamed live on BBS channel 2.

Paro FC has recently signed a contract with the BBS for the live telecast of all its seven matches for the fans.

In the current arrangement, spectators are not allowed in all the league venues. Officials said all precautionary measures are all in place in all the venues.

Moreover, as per the guidelines of the FIFA, players are prohibited from shaking hands on the ground, spitting, and meeting other team members before the match.

A total of eight teams are taking part in the league.

The entire league matches will be broadcasted live on mycujoo sports channel-http.mycujoo.tv.