| Nickname(s) | "The Forbiddens" | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Tibetan National Football Association | ||
| Confederation | NF Board | ||
| Head coach | Kelsang Dhondup | ||
| Most caps | ? | ||
| Top scorer | Tsering Dhundup | ||
| Elo ranking | 229 | ||
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| First international | |||
| Greenland 4 - 1 Tibet (Copenhagen, Denmark; June 30, 2001) |
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| Biggest win | |||
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Tibet 6 - 0 Delhi XI (New Delhi, India; August 4, 2007) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
| Padania 13 - 2 Tibet (Milan, Italy; May 7, 2008) |
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The Tibet national football team is an association football controlled by the Tibetan National Football Association, an organizations of exiled Tibetans. The current manager is Kelsang Dhondup.
Many of the players live in exile outside their nation, and are represented by the Tibetan Government in Exile. It is not part of neither FIFA nor AFC and does not participate in international tournaments. An association was founded in 2001. The goal of the Tibetan Football Association, which controls the team, is to gain official status.
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The first international game the team played was against Greenland which took place in Denmark. The team was followed by a documentary film crew, during the process of forming the team, practices, the match, and everything in between. The documentary was called 'The Forbidden Team'. To form the team, a selective tournament was held in Dehradun, India. It featured all the various Tibetan football teams around India.
After the team was selected, Team Tibet headed to Dharamsala to begin their practice sessions. Jens Espense was hired by the Tibetan Football Association to coach the team for the match. He had only a month to get them conditioned and ready to play, and the players were not even at minor league level. Yet the pitch was in horrible condition and only half of it could be used along with being located on a public road. While the team was out practicing, Karma Nyodup was busy trying to get all the proper documentation done so the team could go to Greenland. Many players were dropped because they did not have proper travel documents.
Soon a month had passed and it was time for the team to head to Denmark, where the game was being held. In Denmark Michael Nybrandt was organizing the match between Tibet and Greenland. He was also advocating Tibet when the Chinese government raised their concerns. China did not want this match to happen; they believe that Tibet is part of China therefore the Chinese National Team includes Tibet. China was threatening to cut off all trade with Denmark if this game went on as planned. Denmark did not back down, however, and allowed the game to take place. On June 30, 2001 the Tibetan National Football Team took the field to play their first international match. However, the nation lost their first international match 1-4.
The 2006 FIFI Wild Cup took place in Hamburg, Germany. The first match they played was against St. Pauli on May 30, 2006. They lost this game 7-0. The second and final match of Tibet in this tournament was against Gibraltar on May 31, 2006. They lost this game 5-0. During the ELF Cup Tibet did not win any games and they suffered their biggest defeat. The first game was against Tajikistan on November 19, 2006 where they lost 3-0. On November 20, Tibet played the Crimean Tatars, which they lost 1-0. Finally on November 21 the biggest loss came when Tibet played Northern Cyprus, who beat them 10-0.
The Tibetan National Football Association was founded in 2001, soon after the authorization was delivered by the Kashag (the Tibet Cabinet), and registration under Indian law.[1] Jetsun Pema, the sister of the 14th Dalai Lama is the president of the association, Thupten Dorjee the secretary, and Kalsang Dhondup the executive secretary. The association is now organizing the Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup GCMGC football tournament which existed already in the 80's. In 2003, the 17th Karmapa was the chief guest on the first day of the tournament which took place at the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala.[2] Mr. Shrikant Baldi, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, was the chief guest in 2004 for the tournament.[3] The 13th GCMGC, took place in 2007, and the chief guest was Khenchen Menling Tri Rinpoche of Mendroling Monastery.[4]. The 14th took place in 2008, and the chief guest was Khyabje Ling Rinpoche[5]
Current squad:
Goalkeepers:
Tamding Tsering
Tenzin Namgyal
Tsering Wangchuk
Tenzing Tsewang Lama
Defenders:
Lobsang Wangyal
Gonpo Dorjee
Kunchok Dorjee
Passang Phuntsok
Ngawang Tenzin
Dawa Tsering
Dorjee Tsering
Midfielders:
Tenzin Choenyi
Tsering Dhundup RSC Calicut
Tsering Chonjor
Tenzin Dhargyal
Tenzin Choegyal
Dawa Chondhen
Kunchok Nyima
Lobsang Dorjee
Kalsang Dorjee
Nyima Gyalpo (captain)
Dorjee Wangchuk
Forwards:
Yeshi Choephel(rana)
Tashi Tsering
Karma Yeshi
Tseten Namgyal
Lobsang Norbu
Sonam Rinchen
Tenzin Tsering
Tenzin Tshepel
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2008 | Milan | Padania | 2 - 13 | |
| 19 April 2008 | Breda, North Brabant | JEKA Breda | 1 - 1 | |
| 17 April 2008 | Maassluis, South Holland | VDL-Maassluis | 0 - 5 | |
| 2 November 2007 | Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim | Bhutan | 0 - 3 | |
| 4 August 2007 | Kirori Mal College, New Delhi | Delhi XI | 6 - 0 | |
| 21 November 2006 | Dr. Fazil Kucuk Stadium, Famagusta | Northern Cyprus | ELF Cup 2006 | 0 - 10 |
| 20 November 2006 | Zafer Stadium, Güzelyurt | Crimea | ELF Cup 2006 | 0 - 1 |
| 19 November 2006 | Zafer Stadium, Güzelyurt | Tajikistan (futsal team) | ELF Cup 2006 | 0 - 3 |
| 30 May 2006 | Millerntor-Stadion, Hamburg | Republic of St. Pauli | 2006 FIFI Wild Cup | 0 - 7 |
| 31 May 2006 | Millerntor-Stadion, Hamburg | Gibraltar | 2006 FIFI Wild Cup | 0 - 5 |
| 10 October 2003 | Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim | Sikkim | 1 - 2 | |
| 14 July 2001 | Germany | Monaco | 1 - 2 | |
| 30 Jun 2001 | Denmark | Greenland | 1 - 4 |
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