Yangchenphug HSS to face Gyalpoizhing HSS today
Thinley Namgay
Ugyen Academy (UA) cruised their way to the final of the maiden Bhutan Higher Secondary School Football Championship (BHSSFC) thrashing Bayling Central School (CS) 14-3 yesterday in the semifinals in Phuentsholing.
The two teams weren’t comparable. UA dominated the possession and the opponent hardly got an occasion to score. In the first half, UA scored nine goals whereas Bayling could pull back only one through Sangay Dorji.
UA scored five more goals in the next half. The opponent scored two.
After completing the league round on January 17, UA and the Yangchenphug HSS topped pools A and B winning all three games. Bayling CS came second in the league from pool B with four points.
Yangchenphug HSS and Gyalpozhing HSS will face today. Gyalpoizhing from pool A followed UA with six points. The final is on January 22.
UA coach Denka said, “I am happy. UA is confident to win the championship. We expect that Yangchenphug HSS will play in the final. Although UA is a strong team, we never underestimate Yangchenphug.”
She said Yangchenphug HSS has been consistent in this tournament and the final will be competitive if Yangchenphug wins today. “We have not played against Yangchenphug HSS so far.”
Many say that UA was a strong team against any opponent in the ongoing BHSSFC considering that UA is a regular competitor in the Bhutan Premier League (BPL).
Denka said that most players of UA were featured in the 2022 BPL. Eight players of Yangchenphug HSS also played in the BPL.
Denka said that players from other schools were also promising. She said that other schools could also do better in future provided the proper training.
Officials said the UA’s system of providing scholarships to students across the country through sports helps build a better team.
Chukha CS’s coach Sonam Wangchuk said that UA would win the championship: “The standard of UA players is high. They are confident and skillful. Other schools could only match them in fitness.”