Fairytale run for Bhutan

BY T.N. Raghu

Male, Maldives

June 10: We hear about Bhutan during SAARC summits. Barring the time of the Bhutanese king’s appearance in traditional gear at regional state meetings, the small nation rarely makes news. Rarer still are reports of Bhutan’s sporting achievements.

The scenario is set to change after Bhutan climbed a formidable mountain in the SAFF Cup with their fairytale semifinal entry. In a landmark match set for a 4.30 pm kickoff at the National Stadium here on Wednesday, the punching bag of previous editions will take on mighty India for a place in the final.

The scale of Bhutan’s achievement becomes evident when one listens to the woes faced by the national team. Dinesh Chhetri, an official with the Bhutan Football Association and a former national player, says aspiring footballers back home have to brave heavy odds. "When I see the logo of an international sports apparel company on the jerseys of Indian players, I think about the struggle we have to undergo to get a decent pair of football boots. With no sponsorship, playing football is not easy in Bhutan," he rues.

"We have only two grass pitches. Experts won’t call them grass grounds because they are in a pitiable condition as a result of overuse. I hope the game will enter a new phase in our country once we get a world-class stadium," Dinesh adds.

Coaching, he points out, is another problem area. "Foreign coaches browse the Internet to find out our Fifa ranking. Once they come to know that we are at the foot of the table, they turn their backs on us. I think the challenge for a coach lies in making a poor team successful," he says.

After a South Korean coach packed his bags without prior notice, Bhutan were left rudderless for six months until Koji Gyotoku of Japan came forward to take up the onerous task of national coach.

For a country still finding its feet in international football, Bhutan have made a big statement in the SAFF Cup.