Bhutan women's national football team

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This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Bhutan national football team.

Bhutan
Nickname(s)Dragon Ladies
AssociationBhutan Football Federation
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationSAFF (South Asia)
Head coachKarma Choden
Top scorerDeki Lhazom
Tsering Yangden (3)
Home stadiumChanglimithang Stadium
FIFA codeBHU
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 173 Decrease 1 (15 March 2024)[1]
Highest113 (March 2017; March 2018)
Lowest178 (March 2023)
First international
 Bangladesh 7–0 Bhutan 
(Dhaka, Bangladesh; 6 December 2010)
Biggest win
 Bhutan 5–0 Sri Lanka 
(Kathmandu, Nepal; 9 September 2022)
Biggest defeat
 India 18–0 Bhutan 
(Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh; 13 December 2010)
SAFF Championship
Appearances6 (first in 2010)
Best resultSemi-finals (2022)

The Bhutan women's national football team represents Bhutan in international women's football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in Bhutan, the Bhutan Football Federation, which is currently a member of the Asian Football Federation and the regional body the South Asian Football Federation.

Bhutan play their home games at the national stadium, Changlimithang. It is one of the younger national teams in the world having played its first match in 2010.

History[edit]

Introduction to Bhutanese Football[edit]

Bhutanese football in general came to the international stage comparatively late in the day with the men's national team only playing their first competitive international match in 1982[2] and the only junior team to compete internationally, the Under-17s making their debut in 2003.[3]

The women's team did not enter any form of international competition until 2010.[4] Prior to their entry into international football, a formal women's competition was established in Bhutan for the first time, supported by a grant from FIFA and run by the Bhutan Football Federation.[5] Because of the very under-developed state of women's football in Bhutan at this time, club teams did not exist and so the tournament consisted of teams representing individual Dzongkhags.[5] This competition was used not only to increase the popularity of football amongst women in the country, but also to act as means of identifying and coaching players who would form the first ever Bhutan women's national football squad.[5]

Competitive debut[edit]

Their first ever competitive game was a friendly match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 6 December 2010 as a warm up for their appearance at the inaugural SAFF Women's Championships a week later.[4] Unfortunately, their debut was one to forget as, having travelled to Cox's Bazar where all of the group matches were scheduled to take place, they succumbed 7–0 to their hosts.[4] Their competition proper got off to an even worse start as they lost 18–0 to India, one of the strongest teams in the region.[4] Bangladesh then repeated their performance in the pre-competition friendly running out 9–0 victors and eliminating Bhutan from the competition.[4] The team were able to salvage some pride in their final game, drawing 1–1 with Sri Lanka, which marks their only positive result of any kind as well as their first competitive goal (one of two times they have scored a goal in a competitive match).[4]

Their performance at the SAFF Championships saw them gain 889 ranking points.[6] Although they were at this stage only provisionally ranked in 127th and last place as they had not played the required number of five competitive matches against officially ranked teams, their performance saw them achieve a higher points total than four other provisionally ranked teams: the U.S. Virgin Islands, Liberia, Qatar and Afghanistan.[6] Had they been officially ranked, their points tally would have placed them in 122nd place ahead of ranked nations Tanzania, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda and Botswana.[6]

Withdrawal and return to international football[edit]

The women's team then withdrew from international football for the next two years, re-emerging to play in the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship. Prior to the tournament in Sri Lanka, the team of twenty five, including two referees and physiotherapists, but with the playing squad consisting entirely of students, flew to Bangkok for two weeks training to get accustomed to warmer weather.[7] They entered the tournament provisionally ranked 34th out of 35 in the Asian Football Confederation, with only Afghanistan ranked below them, and unranked on the global listing because they had been inactive for more than eighteen months.[6] At this point, with their points total of 889, they had a higher technical rating than twelve teams who were either unranked due to inactivity or provisionally ranked in last place due to insufficient competition and had more ranking points than five officially ranked teams: Iraq, Mozambique, Malawi, Antigua and Barbuda and Bostswana.[6]

The team travelled to Sri Lanka to play their fixtures at the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Grounds and were drawn in a group with the same teams as the previous edition of the tournament. Sri Lanka took advantage of their status as hosts in the first match, beating Bhutan 4–0, taking the lead after just four minutes through Nilushika Kumari, with Praveena Perera wrapping up the scoring at the end of the game following two goals either side of half time from Erandi Kumudumala.[8] Bhutan performed better in their next game, a narrow 1–0 loss to Bangladesh, but this eliminated them from the tournament.[9] Their final match against India was very one-sided, though not as great a defeat as last time, India still ran out victors 11–0 sending Bhutan home without a point or a goal.[10]

Rankings, performance, and current status[edit]

Having now played the required five games against already ranked teams, Bhutan received their first official ranking position: 128th, ahead of Antigua and Barbuda and Botswana.[6] Bhutan have not played a competitive match since the 2014 SAFF Championships, but due to movements around them, did climb to a high ranking of 115th in December 2013.[6]

Bhutan took part in the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship in Pakistan, losing all three games, including a 4–1 loss to host Pakistan in which Tshering Yangdon scored just the second official goal in the team's history.[citation needed]

Team image[edit]

Home stadium[edit]

The Bhutan women's national football team plays their home matches on the Changlimithang Stadium.[citation needed]

Results and fixtures[edit]

Main article: Bhutan women's national football team results
See also: 2021 in association football, 2021 in sports, and FIFA International Match Calendar

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023[edit]

5 April 2023 (2023-04-05) 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 Uzbekistan  9–0  Bhutan Tashkent, Uzbekistan
17:00 UTC+5
Report Stadium: Milliy Stadium
Attendance: 145
Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
8 April 2023 (2023-04-08) 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 Bhutan  2–1  Jordan Tashkent, Uzbekistan
15:00 UTC+5
Report
Stadium: Pakhtakor Stadium
Referee: Atena Lashani (Iran)
11 April 2023 (2023-04-11) 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 East Timor  1–3  Bhutan Tashkent, Uzbekistan
15:00 UTC+5
Stadium: Pakhtakor Stadium
21 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament Lebanon  3–2  Bhutan Taif, Saudi Arabia
17:30 UTC+3
Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
24 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament Bhutan  0–0  Laos Taif, Saudi Arabia
17:30 UTC+3 Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
27 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament SF Saudi Arabia  0–1 (a.e.t.)  Bhutan Taif, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3
Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan)
30 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament F Lebanon  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Bhutan Taif, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3
Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan)

2024[edit]

Head-to-head record[edit]

As of October 2023:

Key
  Positive balance (more wins than losses)
  Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
  Negative balance (more losses than wins)

The following table shows Bhutan' all-time official international record per opponent:

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD W% Confederation
 Bangladesh 5 0 0 5 0 27 –27 0.00 AFC
 India 2 0 0 2 0 29 –29 0.00 AFC
 Jordan 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00 AFC
 Maldives 1 0 0 1 1 3 –2 0.00 AFC
 Nepal 5 0 0 5 0 27 –27 0.00 AFC
 Pakistan 1 0 0 1 1 4 –3 0.00 AFC
 Saudi Arabia 3 2 1 0 8 5 +3 77.00 AFC
 Laos 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 33.00 AFC
 Lebanon 2 0 0 2 2 4 –2 0.00 AFC
 Sri Lanka 8 3 1 4 12 11 +1 37.50 AFC
 East Timor 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00 AFC
 Uzbekistan 1 0 0 1 0 9 –9 0.00 AFC
Total 28 7 3 20 27 113 –86 17.86 —

Coaching staff[edit]

Current coaching staff[edit]

As of 1 September 2023
Position Name
Head coach Bhutan Karma Choden
Media officer Bhutan Cheki wangmo
Assistant coach Bhutan Tanka Maya
Goalkeeping coach Bhutan Mon Bhattrai
Physiotherapist Bhutan Chhador Zangmo
Team manager Bhutan Tashi Wangmo

Manager history[edit]

Name Period Tournament
Bhutan Kota Namgay 2010–2012 2010 SAFF Women's Championship: Eighth Place (Last)
2012 SAFF Women's Championship: Eighth Place (Last)
Bhutan Dorji Khandu 2014 2012 SAFF Women's Championship: Seventh Place
South Korea Lee Sung-jea 2016–2019 2016 SAFF Women's Championship: Seventh Place (Last)
2019 SAFF Women's Championship: Sixth Place
Bhutan Denka Na[11] 2019
South Korea Hong Kyung-suk[12] 2022–2023 2022 SAFF Women's Championship: Semi-finalist
Bhutan Karma Choden 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament: Finalist
England Nicola Demaine 2024–Present

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

Caps and goals are updated as of 9 September 2022 after the match against Sri Lanka.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Sangita Monger (1999-06-28) 28 June 1999 (age 24) Bhutan Ugyen Academy
21 1GK Karma Yuden (2004-11-02) 2 November 2004 (age 19) Bhutan Transport United FC
22 1GK Kinzang Dema (2004-02-15) 15 February 2004 (age 20) Bhutan Royal Thimphu College FC
2 2DF Pema Wangmo Bhutan Transport United FC
3 2DF Karma Zangmo (2002-08-05) 5 August 2002 (age 21) Bhutan Paro FC
4 2DF Tashi Wangmo Bhutan
5 2DF Suk Maya Ghalley (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) Bhutan Royal Thimphu College FC
12 2DF Jamyang Choden (2001-04-03) 3 April 2001 (age 23) Bhutan BFF Academy
15 2DF Sonam Choden (1999-09-05) 5 September 1999 (age 24) Bhutan Mandala FC
16 2DF Dorji Edon (2001-10-09) 9 October 2001 (age 22) Bhutan Ugyen Academy
18 2DF Rigzin Wangmo (2003-10-28) 28 October 2003 (age 20) Bhutan Ugyen Academy
20 2DF Ugyen Choden (2001-04-24) 24 April 2001 (age 22) Bhutan
6 3MF Pema Choden Tshering (1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 (age 28) Bhutan Thimphu City
8 3MF Deki Yangdon (2003-06-27) 27 June 2003 (age 20) Bhutan Paro FC
11 3MF Namgyel Dema (2000-08-13) 13 August 2000 (age 23) Bhutan Thimphu City FC
13 3MF Sunita Rai (2001-07-08) 8 July 2001 (age 22) Bhutan Ugyen Academy
14 3MF Tshering Lhaden (1999-11-20) 20 November 1999 (age 24) Bhutan Paro FC
17 3MF Sonam Tshomo (2004-03-12) 12 March 2004 (age 20) Bhutan
19 3MF Yeshey Bidha (2004-03-27) 27 March 2004 (age 20) Bhutan Royal Thimphu College
24 3MF Tshering Choden (2005-09-09) 9 September 2005 (age 18) Bhutan Royal Thimphu College
7 4FW Tshering Yangden (1999-08-16) 16 August 1999 (age 24) Bhutan Ugyen Academy
9 4FW Deki Lhazom (2004-01-04) 4 January 2004 (age 20) 5 3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
10 4FW Sonam Lhamo (2004-05-29) 29 May 2004 (age 19) Bhutan Paro FC
23 4FW Pema Choeki Bhutan BFF Academy
25 4FW Ganga Challey

Recent call-ups[edit]

  • The following players have been called up to a Bhutan squad in the past 12 months.
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Norbu Zangmo (2005-08-10) 10 August 2005 (age 18) Bhutan
DF Kelden Lhamo (2003-09-28) 28 September 2003 (age 20) Bhutan
DF Karma Wangmo (2003-04-01) 1 April 2003 (age 21) Bhutan Paro FC
DF Kinley Zangmo (2001-04-26) 26 April 2001 (age 22) Bhutan
MF Sonam Yangchen (1996-04-16) 16 April 1996 (age 27) Bhutan

Records[edit]

Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2020.

Competitive record[edit]

FIFA Women's World Cup[edit]

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA
China 1991 to AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 did not enter
Total 0/9 – – – – – –

AFC Women's Asian Cup[edit]

AFC Women's Asian Cup record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA
Hong Kong 1975 to India 2022 did not enter
Total 0/20 – – – – – –

SAFF Women's Championship[edit]

SAFF Women's Championship record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA
Bangladesh 2010 Group stage 3 0 1 2 1 28
Sri Lanka 2012 3 0 0 3 0 16
Pakistan 2014 3 0 0 3 1 15
India 2016 3 0 0 3 1 13
Nepal 2019 2 0 0 2 0 5
Nepal 2022 Semi-finals 3 1 0 2 5 12
Total 6/6 17 1 1 15 8 89
SAFF Women's Championship history
Year Round Score Result
2010 Group stage India India 18–0 Bhutan Bhutan Loss
Group stage Bangladesh Bangladesh 9–0 Bhutan Bhutan Loss
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 1–1 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Draw
2012 Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–4 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Loss
Group stage Bangladesh Bangladesh 1–0 Bhutan Bhutan Loss
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–11 India India Loss
2014 Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–4 Nepal Nepal Loss
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–3 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Loss
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 1–4 Pakistan Pakistan Loss
2016 Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–8 Nepal Nepal Loss
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–2 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Loss
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 1–3 Maldives Maldives Loss
2019
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–3 Nepal Nepal Loss
Group stage Bangladesh Bangladesh 2–0 Bhutan Bhutan Loss
2022
Group stage Bhutan Bhutan 0–4 Nepal Nepal Loss
Group stage Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 0–5 Bhutan Bhutan Won
Semi-finals Bangladesh Bangladesh 8–0 Bhutan Bhutan Loss
*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Red border indicates that the tournament was hosted on home soil. Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds indicates 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishes respectively. Bold text indicates best finish in tournament.

See also[edit]

National teams
Men's
Women's

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Bhutan". eloratings.net. World Football Elo Ratingsand Advanced Satellite Consulting. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  3. ^ Diaz Rubio, Julian; Hashim, Refel; Zea, Antonio; Lee, Seungsoo (11 February 2006). "Asian U-17 Championship 2004". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Bhutan Women's Fixtures and Results". FIFA. 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Sarpang wins inter-dzongkhag women's football". Bhutan Observer. 8 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. ^ Phuntsho, Tashi (September 2012). "Women's national football team in Bangkok". Kuensel. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Sri Lanka vs Bhutan – 2014 SAFF Women's Championship". goalnepal.com. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Bangladesh vs Bhutan – 2014 SAFF Women's Championship". goalnepal.com. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Bhutan vs India – 2014 SAFF Women's Championship". goalnepal.com. 9 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  11. ^ FIFA.com. "Member Association - Bhutan". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  12. ^ "National women's team preparing for SAFF championship".
  13. ^ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐚

External links[edit]

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