Tag: Bengaluru FC

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 5: Bengaluru FC take on NorthEast United in top-of-the-table clash

Guwahati: In a battle between two sides who have barely put a foot wrong this season, Bengaluru FC travel to NorthEast United with a chance to peel away from their closest competition on the table, at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, in Guwahati, on Wednesday.

Carles Cuadrat’s Blues, who have enjoyed the best start to a season (22 points from eight games) by any club in the League’s history are up against a team who are enjoying their personal best start to a season. Eelco Schattorie’s side have picked up 18 points from nine games, and are only two points away from their best ever finish in the ISL.

“NorthEast United have been doing really well this season and you can tell that a lot of work has gone in behind the kind of performances they are dishing out. They are playing some very good football and we have travelled to their home while they have the momentum working for them, which makes our job a tough one,” said Cuadrat while addressing the media on the eve of the game.

Spearheading NorthEast’s attack has been French striker Bartholomew Ogbeche, who with eight goals, is leading the scoring charts this season. He will however, be up against the stingiest defence in the League and how that clash unfolds will have a massive bearing on the way the game ends.

Bengaluru would also do well to keep an eye on Uruguayan midfielder Federico Gallego who has had quite the impact for the Highlanders, assisting five and scoring two goals so far this season.

In good news for Bengaluru, Spanish defender Albert Serran looks to have recovered from his injury that kept him out of the 2-1 win against FC Pune City at home last week. “We travelled with 19 players as a precaution but Albert took part in the session this morning and he seems perfectly fine,” informed Cuadrat.

With Miku out till the end of the year, Cuadrat has been using Chencho Gyeltshen and Semboi Haokip in the number nine role and while the duo are yet to score this season, the Bengaluru manager said he was encouraged by their work rate. “You cannot really replace a player of Miku’s quality but we have good options for that role in Sunil, Chencho and Semboi and they have all been working hard. It’s about taking your chances and I am sure they know it too.”

Bengaluru will be buoyed with the form Udanta Singh seems to have struck after what many described as a slow start to the season. The winger set up Sunil Chhetri for the winner in Goa, scored one of his own at home against Delhi and had a brilliant finish for Bengaluru’s opener against Pune last week.

The game kicks off at 7.30 pm and will be telecast across the STAR Sports network, HotStar and JioTV.

by India Footy

ISL 5: Bheke strike hands Bengaluru 2-1 win over Pune

Bengaluru: It was the late, late show once again as Bengaluru FC became the first Indian Super League side to win six games in a row, beating FC Pune City 2-1 at the Fortress in what was a clash for the stands, at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Friday. Udanta Singh’s stunning opener (11′) was levelled with a Rahul Bheke own goal (15′) before the defender redeemed himself with a late strike (88’), his second in three games, to give Carles Cuadrat all three points.

Otherwise cautious starters, Bengaluru seemed in the mood from the get-go and Udanta chose an absolute stunner in the 11th minute for his second goal in as many games. Picking a pass from Harmajot Khabra, Udanta charged into the Pune box, sold Chhuantea a dummy and after sending his former teammate the wrong way, smashed the ball into the roof with his left.

Bengaluru could have gone two up a couple of minutes later when Chencho Gyeltshen’s goal-bound shot took deflections from defender Matt Mills and then goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh before going out for a corner.

But it took all of four minutes after conceding for Pune to get back on level terms, albeit with a little help from a Bengaluru shirt after Rahul Bheke turned a Marko Stankovic cross into his own goal at the near post.

Earlier, Bengaluru started with Rahul Bheke and Harmanjot Khabra in defensive positions with Albert Serran ruled out, having sustained a thigh injury in the previous clash against Delhi Dynamos. Midfielder Dimas Delgado returned to the starting eleven after serving his one-game suspension, in a midfield trio that included him, Xisco Hernandez and Erik Paartalu.

The unfortunate equaliser did nothing but spur Bengaluru to attack with even more gusto and how the half ended 1-1 will still take some explaining from the Blues. Bengaluru could have well scored the team goal of the season when Erik Paartalu’s overhead clearance in the Blues box sparked a swift counter that saw Udanta, Dimas, Xisco and Chencho play their part in getting the ball to Chhetri only to see the captain’s shot on target kept out by Kamaljit. This was before an unmarked Chencho sent a looping header over the bar from ten yards out.

With the ball refusing to roll in from close, Bengaluru decided to try from distance when Chhetri laid the ball off for Erik Paartalu to smash from twenty five yards out in the 45th minute. The hit flew fast and hard only come crashing off the crossbar, capping off a frustrating half for the home side.

Cuadrat brought on Semboi Haokip for Chencho a little over the hour mark, but Bengaluru’s luck refused to alter. With twenty minutes to play, Udanta found himself with the ball in the box, skipped past his man and fired against the angle of the post once again. But, with the minutes ticking out, the stands came alive once again, spurring the Blues into a flurry of attacks.

After shots from Chhetri and Xisco had been blocked, Nishu picked up a clearance from a corner before lobbing it deep into the area for Khabra, who acrobatically volleyed over Kamaljit and his defenders to find Bheke unmarked. The defender would make no mistake from two yards out, slotting home to give Bengaluru a lead they would protect until the very end.

The win sent Bengaluru five points clear at the top, despite playing a game lesser than second placed FC Goa. The Blues travel to Guwahati next, where they take on NorthEast United on December 5th.

by India Footy

Jamshedpur Football Club sign midfielder from ATK

Jamshedpur, November 30, 2018: Jamshedpur FC are ecstatic to announce that the club has completed the signing of 21-year-old midfielder, Malsawmzuala on loan from ATK. The youngster has penned a deal with the the Jharkhand-based side and is now available to feature for the club for the remainder of the Indian Super League 2018/19 season.

Starting his footballing journey with his local club, Chanmari FC in Mizoram, Malsawmzuala quickly climbed the ladder and impressed the scouts at Bengaluru FC. The youngster joined BFC in 2015 and instantly became a regular in the side.

Malsawmzuala made important contributions for the club in I-League and also in the AFC Cup. He made 15 appearances for the club and scored 1 goal; a 30-yard stunner against East Bengal in a crucial I-League encounter.
Malsawmzuala also has Indian Super League experience under his belt as the boy from Mizoram had joined Delhi Dynamos on loan in 2016. He made four appearances that season for the Dynamos and also scored a goal against FC Pune City.

The youngster joined ATK ahead of the ongoing season but has not been able to garner regular playing time in the Steve Coppell managed side. Malsawmzuala will now be hoping to kick-start his ISL journey with Jamshedpur FC.

Malsawmzuala has also represented India at the U-19 level and was previously included in the Indian senior team squad for the World Cup qualifiers in 2016 alongside his soon to be teammate, Sumeet Passi. The midfielder is touted as a huge talent and is predicted by many to become the Indian midfield mainstay for the years to come.

Malsawmzuala is a defensive midfielder that excels in breaking up play and helping his side win back possession. He is also comfortable when on the ball and has an ability to test the opponents with his long-range shooting. The youngster will surely play a key role in the ongoing season for Jamshedpur FC with his ability to destruct and dictate the game from the centre of the park.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 5: Fortress braces for cracker as Bengaluru, Chennaiyin lock horns

Bengaluru: The Sree Kanteerava Stadium is set to host a big-money clash, as the Indian Super League season kicks off for Carles Cuadrat’s Blues with a clash against Chennaiyin FC, on Sunday. John Gregory’s men went down a goal, responded with three of their own and then conceded harmlessly late to beat Bengaluru and be crowned champions at the Fortress, last season.

“We know that this is a repeat of last season’s final, but the ideal scenario is that we view it as the opening game of this season. We have studied them but we will be focusing on ourselves more and how we can make use of our strengths in this game,” said Cuadrat, speaking to the media ahead of the game.

The Blues assembled in July and headed to Spain for a pre-season that was full of lessons handed by teams like Barcelona B and Villareal B and Cuadrat admits his side returned from the tour, wiser and stronger.

“We played some friendlies in Spain and it was a good experience for some of our boys. They were tough opposition and now is the time for us to use that to our advantage as we begin the new league season,” the Spaniard said.

The friendlies also featured experienced centre-back Albert Serran who is expected to partner Juanan Gonzalez at the back and lend the defence some much-needed stability. Things have slowly begun coming together for Cuadrat and he will hope his team don’t take too long to find their rhythm. What will surely help is the fact that the Blues assembled much earlier than most ISL teams given their AFC Cup commitments.

“It’s true that our team was together much before the others, but these games depend on the performance that we put out on the day. We know that we have never beaten Chennaiyin FC at home, but every game has its own history and tomorrow we’ll be trying to change that,” said Cuadrat.

John Gregory’s midfield, meanwhile, was dealt a little blow after Dhanpal Ganesh was ruled out of the first phase of the League with an injury. Like Bengaluru, Chennaiyin too have shopped for three new foreigners this season in Eli Sabia, Andrea Orlandi, and Carlos Salom. But how the Englishman chooses to roll out his foreigners makes for interesting guessing.

Bengaluru’s attack will come up against the muscle and experience of Mailson Alves and Inigo Calderon which makes for a fantastic battle. Interestingly, both teams have conceded in every game they’ve played against each other and Sunday’s tie could stretch that statistic.

The match kicks off at 7.30 pm and will be telecast across the Star Sports network, HotStar and JioTV.

IndiaFooty.com
by Abhishek Shukla

We have to keep our competitive mentality intact, says Carles Cuadrat

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat outlined the need for the club to maintain the high standards they have set in the last five years as they gear up for their season opener against Chennaiyin FC while speaking to the media during the Indian Super League Media Day at the JW Marriot Hotel in Bengaluru on Thursday.

“The most important thing for us at Bengaluru is that we have to keep our mentality intact. We want to win trophies like we have in the past seasons, and we also want to reach the final stages of competitions. The club has always been competitive and when you reach that stage, it’s just about the last few games which decide whether you become champions or not,” said Cuadrat when talking about the challenge of leading Bengaluru.

“Last season we had an amazing league phase in the ISL which brought us to the big final. We fell short there, but went on to win the Super Cup. Similarly, the club had lost a league title at home a few years back in the last few moments. What makes the club and the supporters stronger is the desire to reach and stay at that level and that is something we work very hard on,” added Cuadrat.

Speaking on the new signings that will take the field in the ISL, he said, “It will be strange for our supporters to see some of our players in other jerseys. We understand that, and it happens all over the world. But we have made some exciting signings this season. They will adapt to the team and to be honest, the team will slightly adjust its tactics to welcome them as well. I’m really looking forward to seeing them play.”

Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu played down the hype surrounding the Blues’ opener against Chennaiyin FC while highlighting the importance of putting on a good performance in front of the home fans. “We have to begin the season against someone, and if that someone is Chennaiyin, so be it. What’s important is that we go out there each time and put on a good performance. What matters is not who the opposition is, but that we focus on what we can do well. Every season is an opportunity to do one better, not just as a team but as an individual as well, so I’m just looking to contribute to the club in this campaign.”

Playmaker Dimas Delgado who has been out of competitive action since last season’s ISL final, made his comeback during the pre-season in Spain. However, having picked up another injury, the Spaniard was further ruled out of the Blues’ AFC Cup knockout campaign. Fit and eager to play, Dimas feels the adrenaline rush and is excited for the new signings.

“It feels really good to be back in shape. I have been working for a long time to get back from the injury I suffered against Chennaiyin in March. I wanted to play in the AFC Cup, but couldn’t. Now that I am fit and ready, I’m eager to help my team as much as I can. As far as the new players are concerned, changes keep happening in every club. All the boys who’ve come in this season have always given their one hundred percent in training. They are open to learning and listening, and they want to help the team as much as we do.”

The Blues open their Indian Super League campaign with a clash against Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on September 30.

by India Footy

AFC Cup 2018: All or nothing as Bengaluru look to turn tide against Altyn Asyr

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: Carles Cuadrat’s Bengaluru FC are confident of climbing the proverbial mountain when they take on Altyn Asyr at the Kopetdag Stadium, on Wednesday, for a spot in the Inter-Zone final of the AFC Cup. Having suffered a 3-2 defeat at home, the Blues will need to win by a two-goal margin in the capital in what could be a comeback for the ages.

Though Cuadrat admitted that conceding three goals at home was far from the ideal scenario going into a second leg, he was confident that the late fightback at the Kanteerava has given his side belief and a chance against tough opponents. “Altyn Asyr is a good team who have been doing well in this competition. When they came to Bengaluru, they were in the middle of their league commitments and you could tell by how fit they were. They took advantage of the options they had in front of our goal. It was a bit of a shock to go down by three goals at home but we slowly took control of things in the second half and we had enough chances to put them in trouble. We have two goals that make us believe we have a shot at going ahead in this competition,” said the Spaniard while addressing the media on Tuesday.

The team from Turkmenistan didn’t have much of the ball in the first leg, but they made their reliance on the counter attack matter, with clinical finishing. Cuadrat said the early goals were a tad bit disappointing because they knew how the visitors would tackle the tie. “When you’re down a goal at home you want to get right back into it and that’s where we conceded another one on the counter attack. We have been watching Altyn Asyr’s games in the AFC Cup and we know they don’t really have a lot of possession during the game. Most games they usually have around 45 percent possession. They know they must defend well and punish the other teams on the counter. So, it wasn’t a surprise.”

The Blues will do well to be wary of the threat that the hosts possess through Altymyrat Annadurdyyew and Wahyt Orazsahedow, both of who were on target in Bengaluru. Winger Myrat Yagsyyew, who had to be substituted early in the game owing to a groin injury, remains a doubtful starter for the fixture.

The biggest positive that Bengaluru FC can take from the defeat and into the second leg is the attitude they displayed even after conceding three goals. The attack switched gears in the second half and had Altyn Asyr defending in numbers. The Blues were left feeling hard done-by after two stonewall penalty decisions were waived away by the referee. But goals from Rahul Bheke and Erik Paartalu were justice to the kind of turnaround they orchestrated.

Harmanjot Khabra, who missed the game with illness, has made the trip to Turkmenistan and it needs to be seen if he will have a part to play on Wednesday. Cuadrat also hinted at a possible rejig in the way he approaches the game and the team he rolls out. “We weren’t happy with the way things went in the first game and we would like to fix that. If it means us having to change and reshuffle, we will. In the end, we don’t have an option but to keep trying things that can keep us alive in the competition,” he said.

The winner of the tie will go on to face North Korean side 4.25 SC in the Inter-Zone final after they cruised past Singapore’s Home United FC 11-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal clash.

The game kicks off at 5 pm IST.

by India Footy

ISL allure Bengal with mouth-watering opening game night at Kolkata

KOLKATA: Indian Super League (ISL) today announced the fixtures for 2018-19 until the mid-season break, featuring 12 rounds and 59 games with a kick-off in Kolkata.

The fifth edition of ISL will commence with a new look ATK – a two-time champion, renewing its seasonal rivalry against Kerala Blasters FC on Saturday, September 29, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium).

The following Super Sunday promises to be an equally enthralling game night in south India, pitting last season’s runners-up Bengaluru FC against champions Chennaiyin FC on September 30 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.

The upcoming season will have three breaks, two for FIFA windows (October 8 – 16, 2018 and November 12 – 20, 2018), and one, starting from December 17, 2018, for the Indian national team’s preparatory camp ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in UAE.

Fixtures for 2019 will be announced on a later date.

The League has moved away from double-headers on weekends this season, while having the kick-off for all matches at 7:30 pm (IST). View the fixtures here.

by India Footy

AFC Cup 2018: Brave Bengaluru take the fight to Turkmenistan

Bengaluru: What seemed like a tie that was done and dusted sprang back to life after Bengaluru produced an inspired second-half comeback against Turkmenistan side Altyn Asyr in the first leg of the AFC Cup Inter-Zone semifinal at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. The Blues conceded three goals, before scoring two of their own to take a 2-3 result to Ashgabat for the second leg, set to be played in seven days’ time.

With an ill Harmanjot Khabra having to sit out of the game, Cuadrat started with Rino Anto at the right-back position while Xisco Hernandez made his Bengaluru debut, playing in the middle.

The visitors couldn’t have asked for a better start away from home when Vahyt beat the last line of defence and rose to nod home Nurmyradov Selim’s cross from the right in the 11th minute.

The Blues looked almost certain of squaring things up in the 15th minute when Chhetri was picked with a precise cross from Miku. The skipper measured the flight and picked his spot with a calm header only for ’Orazmuhamedov Mamed to clear the ball with an outstretched left foot.

Just when Bengaluru looked like getting back into the game, Altyn Asyr got a second through Altymyrat in the 24th minute. The leading scorer of the Turkmenistan side’s AFC Cup campaign, Altymyrat managed to sneak in a low but powerful hit past Sandhu at the near post.

Not allowing the deficit to kill their resolve of a fightback, Bengaluru gave the Altyn Asyr defence an edgy last ten minutes in the first half where Miku, Chhetri and Nishu had chances stuffed out by desperate blue shirts in the box.

Things slipped further for Bengaluru soon after the second half began when Vahyt got his second and Altyn Asyr’s third goal of the night. Sandhu had an uncharacteristically weak moment allowing Vahyt’s to roll past from under him.

With little to lose, Bengaluru kept plugging away as Udanta Sigh made life difficult for Altyn Asyr’s men on the left. The visitors seemed happy to sit back and defend in numbers as Bengaluru moved the ball all around, prodding for an opening. The Blues finally got one back in the 63rd minute when Bheke smashed home from in the box. Chhetri’s header from Udanta’s cross smashed the post only to bounce back to Bheke who wouldn’t miss.

The goal breathed fresh life into Bengaluru’s charge as they got into a rhythm that Altyn Asyr found tough to handle. The defending was frenetic at best but just enough to keep Miku, Udanta and a host of white shirts at bay.

Bengaluru were left feeling hard done when they thought they had two shouts for what looked like legitimate penalties, turned down by referee Iida Jumpei. But the Blues piled on the pressure, finding a second through Erik Paartalu. With Xisco’s initial cross headed out of the Altyn box, Udanta picked up the pieces and swung in a second that was nodded home by the Aussie.

The Blues fly to Ashgabat, where they will take on the Turkmenistan champions on August 29th, at the Kopetdag Stadium.

by Bhaskar Ganekar

Bengaluru FC: 5 Successful years and counting

On the club’s fifth anniversary let’s have a look into the success of Bengaluru Football Club (BFC).

ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIA was the most-used phrase we all have used in our schooling days. Didn’t we? Today, in 2018, we can use the same phrase for Indian football. I mean not just for the national side, to the clubs of India. And one of the successors of this Indian football without any doubt is Bengaluru FC.

In 1950, India’s chance to participate in the FIFA World Cup ruined by AIFF citing travel costs. Though FIFA had agreed to bear the expenses, AIFF denied it. Since then, football in India was not seen as a major sport. There might be many reasons for it but it was not up to the mark to entertain India football fans. But in recent years, Indian football touching news highs day-by-day and we must thank Bengaluru FC.

The Foundation

For the 2013-14 I-League seasons, All India Football Federation (AIFF) was accepting the bid from clubs for the direct entry on certain conditions. And in January same year, it was officially announced that JSW Group had won the bid for a Bangalore based team through their sports branch JSW Sports. They were agreed to form a new stadium and group announced they would set up a youth academy in Bangalore. And finally, on July 20, 2013, the JSW Group officially launched the club ‘Bengaluru Football Club’.

Bengaluru FC launch

 

The Beginning

For any new club in any sports, it’s always a tougher challenge to contest. And for the I-League, there were big-daddy like Mohan Bagan, East Bengal, Dempo, Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar. To take on these challenges was the first and foremost task for Bengaluru FC. But club straight away appointed Ashley Westwood – the former Blackburn Rovers’ assistant manager as the head coach. Signed two foreign players John Johnson and Curtis Osano. Club also signed India football captain Sunil Chhetri who was part of Sporting Clube de Portugal B previous season before he came on loan to Churchill Brothers towards the fag end of the I-League.

In its debut season, the club won the I-League championship. That’s the start they had planned since their inception. They won as many 14 games out of 24 they played losing just five of them and other five managed successful draws.

The prowess of the club in Indian football started right from the debut season. In the 2014-15 season, the club participated in the Federation Cup and claimed their first title by defeating Dempo in the final 2-1. Meaning, in the span of two years since inception Bengaluru FC claimed two different titles. So far the club has two I-League titles and two Federation Cup titles. Those premier titles are the full-proof of the club and its dominance over Indian football in simple un-matchable.

The Team

In India, people prefer cricket over other sports. No doubt. The Indian Premier League (IPL) – world’s biggest cricketing league tournament is nothing like a festival and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has shown what consistency means since IPL inception. There is nothing different than the story of Bengaluru FC in Indian football than CSK in IPL. The club right from the start insisted on their team. Captain Chhetri led from the season one along with his other members. And the perfect example of this was 2016 AFC Cup. Bengaluru FC became the first ever Indian club to feature into the final. Unfortunately, the club was defeated by Iraqi club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in the hard-fought final 1-0.

ISL and Super Cup

The fourth season of Indian Super League (ISL) featured ten teams adding two new entrants Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC. Having the stupendous mark in Indian football, Bengaluru FC, started their ISL debut with a win over Mumbai City FC in their opening game at home. The club went on winning 13 games out of 18 they played, the record in the ISL claiming 40 points in the table. With this performance, they easily progressed to the final but lost the game to Chennaiyin FC 3-2. With the introduction of a new tournament in the Indian football, Super Cup which is the replacement of Federation Cup, the club won the title quite comfortably defeating Mohun Bagan and East Bengal 4-2 and 4-1 respectively in the semifinal and final, and became the first team in the history to score 4 goals against both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the same competition.

Since the inception, the club has seen enormous fan following. The West Block Blues are there for almost every game to cheer the club. It’s not just Bengaluru FC, the West Block Blues cheer for Indian national team as well.

BFC Soccer School and Academy

Bengaluru FC started Soccer school’s all across Bengaluru to help young boys and girls dream big and become a professional football player. Young players who perform well in these soccer school would be selected to full funded BFC youth Academy and Academy players have a chance of Representing Bengaluru FC in National and AFC events. Bengaluru FC soccer School provides training to U8, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U16 in 10 centers in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru FC deployed experienced coaches in Soccer School, headed by youth Academy coach, John Kila. Kila managed Clubs from Ghana before moving to Bengaluru as “Head of youth development” in 2016. Bengaluru FC Academy is one of the most advanced academies in India, selected talents from all across Indian for full funded youth development program.

Whats Next

Bengaluru FC Senior team have won 5 trophies in its 5 years of existence, Whether they will be able to replicate their success in next 5 years or not is must watch for all Indian Fans. But Bengaluru did change Indian Football in last 5 years with their professional approach towards the game and youth development, now many other clubs are also coming up with same plans for their teams.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bhutanese Youngster Joins Bengaluru FC On A One-Year Deal

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC have completed the signing of Bhutanese attacker Chencho Gyeltshen on a one-year deal, the club announced on Monday. The 22-year-old becomes the Blues’ fifth foreigner and the first one the club has ever signed from a fellow SAFF nation.

“Bengaluru FC is one of the top clubs in India but more importantly, it has been my dream to play for them and I’m happy that the move has happened. It’s a team with so many experienced players and the aim is to keep learning from them and improving with every passing day at the club,” said Chencho after completing the formalities.

Beginning his youth career at Yeedzin FC in 2008, Chencho moved up the ranks quickly to make his first team debut in the Bhutan National League. At 17, he picked up his first national title when Yeedzin were crowned Champions of Bhutan. The following season he moved to fellow Bhutanese side Druk United with whom he scored a brace against Mohun Bagan in the 2014 King’s Cup.

A spell with Thimphu FC (2015) was followed by a move to Thailand’s Buriram United midway through 2015. Chencho won the U19 Championships with the Thai giants before being loaned out to Surin City thus becoming the first Bhutanese player to play professional football abroad. After another short loan spell with Nonthaburi FC (2016), he moved to Satun United (2016) before returning back from Thailand.

Chencho starred in the 2016 Bhutan National League finishing as the top-scorer with Thimphu FC before joining FC Tertons for the 2017 AFC Cup Qualifying Stages. He moved abroad for the second time joining Bangladesh’s Chittagong Abahani in October 2016 for the second half of their league campaign.

At the start of the 2017-18 season Chencho joined Minerva Punjab FC in his third move abroad and immediately became an indispensable part of the side. The attacker continued his fine goal scoring form and finished the as the top-scorer for the North-Indian side with seven goals, third highest in the League, helping them to their maiden I-League title.

Speaking on the club’s latest acquisition, COO Mustafa Ghouse said the youngster had been on Bengaluru FC’s radar for some time now. “We got to see Chencho in a pre-season friendly against us and then through the entire I-League season with Minerva Punjab and we were impressed to say the least. He’s a gifted youngster who we believe will flourish further in our system.”

At the international level, Chencho has represented Bhutan in various age groups before making his senior debut at just under 16 years scoring in a friendly game against Nepal. In fact, Chencho (10 goals in 29 appearances) is the most capped player for Bhutan as well as their highest ever goal scorer.