Thinley Namgay
The former skipper of Paro FC, Jigme Tshering Dorjee, made his debut as a defender for the Muthoot Football Academy yesterday against Kovalem FC in India’s ongoing Kerala Premier League 2022.
Muthoot Football Academy won the game 3-1. He played for the full 90 minutes.
Jigme Tshering Dorjee joined the Muthoot Football Academy last week. He joined the academy with the assistance of IBISA consultancy.
The 27-year-old defender joined the academy after playing for three years for his former club.
Jigme Tshering Dorjee was one of the key players for Paro FC, which won the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Cup 2019 and Bhutan Premier League 2019 and 2021.
He said that his absence would not affect Paro FC’s defending line, as the club has a good pool of defenders.
He took to his Facebook page recently to announce his resignation from Paro FC. “It’s very difficult to put my feelings into words. It’s a big decision for me to say goodbye to this wonderful club which will be remembered forever in my life,” he stated.
He said that he wanted to play abroad.
Jigme Tshering Dorjee, who is from Bongo in Chukha, has been in the senior national team since 2011. He was dropped from the team this year.
He has made more than 25 appearances in the national team jersey.
Jigme said the current temperature in Kerala is 35 degrees Celsius and that he was getting used to the new environment. “I am getting better now.”
He added that he liked to play for international clubs where players from various countries ply their trade. “Currently, Muthoot Football Academy also has players from Senegal and Argentina.”
He said that the debut game had given him the confidence and opportunity to join bigger international clubs.
There are 22 teams in the Kerala Premier League 2022, which began on January 7. Muthoot Football Academy will face KSEB on January 14.