BPL 2021 runners-up kicked off year 2022 in style as they beat Sherubtse 6-0 at Gyalpoizhing.
In what is deemed to be the biggest football tournament hosted in the east by BFF, Thimphu City took on Sherubtse in the opening game of Group B. This was also the first time TCFC has ever competed in a tournament without Tshering Dorji, the team’s most stalwart player who recently resigned from Bhutanese football. He was only 17 years when the club was formed in 2012. At the age of 21, he was named captain of City and instantly led us to our first title. Three more titles followed since then. It would have been the ideal send-off if he had won the season 2021, however, It was not to be.
The match
Led by yet another young captain in 21 year-old Tenzin Norbu, the boys from the capital took only 23 minutes to break the deadlock through Kinga Rabgay. Sherub then extended the advantage with a well-placed free-kick from just outside the box. Tobgay, a new arrival from Paro FC, was unfazed standing in front of the City goal, while another newcomer in Sonam Tobgay had a descent outing in the middle of the park.
Two more players debuted right after the break as Dorji, Tenzin Thinley and Dawa Tshering came in place of Nima Tshering, Kinga Rabgay and Sonam Tobgay. Dawa ran around the flanks only to have his cross find Dorji unmarked inside the box. The towering forward then took a perfect first touch to score his first of many goals for City. In a similar move, Dawa created another one for yet another debutant Tenzin Thinley, making the score 4-0 at 53 minutes. With two assists under his belt, our number 14 only needed a goal of his own to sign off a good day at office on a personal note. In the 85th minute, he eventually accomplished it when he picked up a loose ball outside the box and unleashed a thundering strike. The one-sided game finally ended with Sherub finding Dorji at the end of his cross, who made it 6-0.
City dominated in every department with center-back partners Tenzin Norbu and Phuntsho Jigme fending off every attack. In the middle, as always, was Orgyen commanding the game. He was picked man of the match at the end of the day.
It was a good day for Ngawang and his boys to begin the new year. With only three teams competing in Group B, City have now advanced to the semifinals. They will face Transport United on January 8 for the last group action.
