Thinley Namgay
Sudeva FC will participate in the upcoming Hero I-League for the first time in Kolkata later this year in November. Chencho Dorji, 38-year-old Bhutanese international coach will lead the team as the head coach.
Sudeva FC’s management recently nominated Chencho Dorji as head coach.
“It was really a big moment for me and I am excited. I want to thank the president and vice president of the club for having faith in me. I want to take this opportunity as a challenge,” said Chencho Dorji.
Sudeva FC is the Delhi-based professional club founded in 2014. The club recently won the bid to take part in the I- League.
In a video conversation on the Sudeva’s official Facebook page, the club’s co-founder and the president, Anuj Gupta, said that Chencho Dorji’s commitment to the club was commendable. “He gives equal importance to all the players and shares a good bonding with the management. He is farsighted.”
The club’s co-founder and vice president, Vijay Hakari, said that Chencho Dorji’s communication with players and management, field knowledge, his passion and caring attitude for the players, especially during Covid-19 pandemic were inspiring. “He believes in developing players.”
Chencho Dorji is from Mongar and joined Sudeva in November last year. He became the first Bhutanese coach to be hired by an international football academy in March last year when he became a new youth coach for Manipur-based FC Imphal City.
“It will be a challenging task being a part of I-league which is mostly managed by coaches from European countries. I-League is one of the best football leagues in South East Asia. It is an opportunity to learn and experience new things,” said Chencho Dorji.
Currently, the club has more than 130 players comprising of both junior and senior players.
His contract period in Sudeva will complete in May next year.
Chencho Dorji was a national coach for 12 years under the Bhutan Football Federation. He also coached the junior teams for SAFF U-19 (Nepal), U-16 (Sri Lanka and Japan), and U-16 AFC qualification (Iran).
Chencho Dorji said that Bhutanese football was gaining momentum and clubs were becoming more professional.