Thimphu Women’s FC & RTC Women’s FC leading Bhutan Women’s National League

In the serene landscapes of Bhutan, amidst the towering Himalayan mountains and colorful prayer flags, a new chapter of women's football is unfolding. The Bhutan Women's National League has kicked off with fervor and enthusiasm, and after the first match week, it's Thimphu Women's FC and RTC Women's FC who have taken the early lead, promising an exciting season ahead.

The Bhutan Women's National League for the current season is witnessing fierce competition among six prominent teams: Gelephu Academy Girls, Transport United Ladies, RTC Women’s FC, Thimphu Women’s FC, Samtse Women’s FC, and Ugyen Academy Women’s FC. Each team brings its own unique style and talent to the league, making for a captivating spectacle on the football pitch.

Picture by BBS

Thimphu Women’s FC and RTC Women’s FC each secured a victory, putting them at the top of the Bhutan Women’s National League points table for the new season. Following the completion of the first match week, the league matches will be temporarily halted for a month to accommodate the SAFF Under-16 Championship 2023. Similarly, the BOB Premier League will also be put on hold.

The Bhutan Women’s National League for this season kicked off on Monday. Participating teams in this season include Gelephu Academy Girls, Transport United Ladies, RTC Women’s FC, Thimphu Women’s FC, Samtse Women’s FC, and Ugyen Academy Women’s FC.

In the inaugural match, Transport United Ladies and Gelephu Academy Girls played to a 2-2 draw. On the following Tuesday, RTC Women’s FC secured a 3-0 victory over Ugyen Academy Women’s FC. The match week concluded with an impressive 6-1 triumph for Thimphu Women’s FC against Samtse Women’s FC.

As a result, Thimphu Women’s FC leads the league, while Samtse Women’s FC finds themselves at the bottom of the standings.

In the BoB Bhutan Premier League, Transport United FC and Paro FC currently hold the top positions with 15 points each.

According to Bhutan Football Federation officials, during the break, many players will be participating in international tournaments.

Phuntsho Wangdi, the head of media and marketing at the Bhutan Football Federation, stated, ‘‘The men’s national team is heading to Macau to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers, so most of the BPL players will be on national team duty. The women’s national team is in a similar situation, as they will be traveling to Saudi Arabia to compete in the Saudi King’s Cup.’’

He also mentioned that players competing in the national leagues face challenges, particularly in obtaining leave approvals. ‘‘Many of the players are students, some in college, some in schools. Obtaining leave from school or college is a major issue we encounter, and the availability of training time is another challenge.’’

Likewise, women footballers are advocating for equal opportunities to participate in regional and continental club championships, similar to what is afforded to men.

Pema Choden Tshering, the head of Women's Football at the Bhutan Football Federation, stated, ‘‘The men's winner of the BOB Bhutan Premier League gets to participate in the AFC Championship, but we don't have that yet for the women's league. I believe AFC will be implementing that in the future.’’

However, it's important to note that the AFC Women’s Club Championship is still in its pilot phase. The Bhutan Football Federation anticipates that Bhutan Women’s National League champions will have opportunities in the future once the championship is fully established.