Thinley Namgay 

Sunrise FC and Ugyen Academy FC lead the ongoing Kelme Bhutan Women’s Football League with clean sheets in their first four games. Both have 12 points each as of yesterday.

However, Sunrise enjoys an edge over Ugyen Academy in goal differences. Sunrise and Ugyen Academy have scored 36 and 22 goals, respectively.

Sunrise FC will host the Ugyen Academy FC at Changlimithang Stadium today.

Ugyen Academy’s coach, Denka, said: “Sunrise is one of the top teams in Bhutan, but my team is competent too. I hope we perform better in this game.”

Denka said that her team is ready to face Sunrise. “It’s easy for me to train my players, as I know most of them. Some of them have been under my guidance for the last five years.”

One of Sunrise’s players, Pema Choden Tshering, said the game would be challenging. However, she added that her team will enjoy a home advantage.

Pema Choden Tshering said that the next match that will be played at the Ugyen Academy grounds will be challenging. However, she added that it will be “fun” to play against friends and former teammates.

“Sunrise is hoping to win the league, but it’s not an easy task,” she said.

Last year, the women’s league was cancelled due to the pandemic. Only eight games were played at the centralised venue in Punakha. A total of 10 teams took part.

Each team will play five games in the first round of this year’s league.

The other teams: Paro FC, Taktshang FC, Yangchenphug FC, and Mandala FC have also played four games each at this point.

Mandala and Paro FC have six points each. Taktshang and Yangchenphug have yet to earn a point.

For the first time this year, the women’s league is being conducted in a home-and-away format.

The league, which began on October 9, ends next month.

Edited by Jigme Wangchuk