Bhutan’s star has point to prove
NEWDELHI:Chencho Scoring two goals against Sri Lanka and taking the team to the World Cup qualifiers was a special moment for me and the whole team. Even the people back home did not believe in us.
CHENCHO GYELTSHEN, footballer
Gyeltshen has a deep connection with Cristiano Ronaldo, at least when it comes to his football career. The Minerva Punjab FC striker, who became the first Bhutanese footballer to sign for an I-League club, was determined to pursue martial arts. But it was Ronaldo’s brilliance on the field that changed his life.
As a 10-year old, Chencho was mesmerised by Ronaldo’s performance for Manchester United and after watching one of his matches on TV, he was sure he wanted to become a footballer. “I did not know anything about football and it was Ronaldo who inspired me to become a professional footballer,” Gyeltshen, who is known as the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo of Bhutan’ among his fans back home, told HT.
“The thing I love most about (Cristiano) Ronaldo is the amount of hard work he puts into his game and the passion he shows. He may not be as naturally gifted as (Lionel) Messi, but his hard work makes him great,” he added. It did not take Gyeltshen long to prove his worth and in 2008, he was recruited by local giants Yeedzin before moving to Thimphu FC. Soon, he became a popular name in the domestic circuit and his stint with Surin City FC in Thailand made him the first Bhutanese player to play abroad.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL Gyeltshen’s performances earned him his first international cap against Nepal at 19. The youngster made the most of the opportunity and although they were defeated, Gyeltshen was able to score his first international goal. His best moment came in 2015 when he scored twice to guide Bhutan to a sensational win over Sri Lanka in a World Cup qualifier. It was a huge win for the lowest ranked team in the world at that time and the performance made Gyeltshen a household name in Bhutan.
“Scoring two goals against Sri Lanka and taking the team to the World Cup qualifiers was a special moment for me and the whole team. Even the people back home did not believe in us. But the win started to change things around. They follow us and feel proud of us,” he said. In 2016, he became the highest paid athlete in Bhutan after signing for Bangladesh club Chittagong Abahani. He spent three months there before returning to Thimphu FC.
The 21-year-old has already made a few waves at new club Minerva, having scored a hattrick against Bengaluru FC in their warm-up game. However, Gyeltshen believes he is underestimated by most because of his nationality, which motivates him to prove his detractors wrong.
“When I tell people that I am from Bhutan, most of them tend to underestimate me because of our low ranking. But that makes me determined and my goal this season will once again be to prove all of my doubters wrong,” he said.