COMING THROUGH!

Around 15,000 people packed into the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu – a stadium at an altitude of 7,500 feet – for Gyeltshen’s big day moment against Sri Lanka. A half- holiday was declared in Bhutan, recently in named one of the happiest countries that the world – but nonetheless a country played its first official match as recently entered as 1982 and had never previously

Cup. a qualifying campaign for a World Gyeltshen’s six goals for the national leading team have already made him the scorer in his country’s brief footballing history, before his 20th birthday. and “People often ask for autographs me on I always read what fans write about I walk social media,” he says. “Whenever staring out of my house there’ll be people to have at me. But my main satisfaction is like children telling me they want to play CG7. me; ; that they take inspiration from fans get I’ve got to keep up to thatth level, so satisfaction when they leave the stadium.” Gyeltshen’s national team success earned him a move to Thailand.Thailand He is scoring goals for fun at Surin City (nickname: the Crazy Elephants) on loan from Buriram United (nickname: the Thunder Castles). He is the only member of the Bhutan national team playing outside of his own country, but his ambitions in the game don’t end there. “I started playing football when I was 10, then during winter they were selecting players for the under-12 squad and I just gave it a try,” he says. “Up to now I am doing well, but I’m still in the early stages of my career. Representing my country is certainly my proudest achievement, but it’s too soon to say I’ve achieved anything yet. “From the start of my time in Thailand I’ve been training very hard, and one thing I really wanted to show was that

Bhutan players can play internationally. “I have many dreams, but one I’ve always had is to play professionally in Europe. Another is to meet Ronaldo one day, and play in a game with him.” Well, you never know if there are any Real Madrid scouts reading this…