Druk United F.C.

Druk United
Full name Druk United Football Club
Ground Changlimithang
Thimpu, Bhutan
Capacity 25,000
Coordinates 27°28′17.1″N 89°38′27.8″E / 27.471417°N 89.641056°ECoordinates: 27°28′17.1″N 89°38′27.8″E / 27.471417°N 89.641056°E
League Bhutan National League
2014 1st[1]

Druk United is a football club from Bhutan,[2] based at Changlimithang, who play in the Bhutan A-Division, formerly the top level of football in Bhutan, but since replaced by a full national league for which the A-Division acts as a qualifying tournament.[3] They are the current A-Division title holders.

History

2002-2012

Druk United's first recorded instance of participating in football in the Bhutanese pyramid, was during the 2002 season, when they competed in the B-Division.[4] With four wins and one loss from their five games in the group stage, they topped the group, finishing two points ahead of second place team, Sharks FC.[4] The lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up Yeedzin, but won the third place playoff to finish third overall.[4]

This third place position was evidently enough to secure promotion to the top division of football in Bhutan for the first time.[2] However, they finished ninth and last in the 2003 season, with only a single point.[2] They lost 6-0 to Transport United, 6-1 to Ranjung United, 5-2 to Dzongric, 7-3 to Rigzung and 2-1 to Druk Star.[2] Additionally they lost to Royal Bhutan Army and gained their only point either against Yeedzin or eventual winners Druk Pol.[2] They were relegated at the end of the season.[2]

It is not known whether they competed again between 2004 and 2012, and there is no record of them competing in any future season of the A-Division for which records exist.[5]

2012 to present day

In 2012, they were runners up in the B-Division Championship, losing to Druk Star 5-1 in the final at Changjiji football field.[3] However, they were promoted to the 2013 A-Division, along with Druk Star where they finished fifth out of six, with two wins and six losses from their eight games, including a 10-2 defeat to Yeedzin,[1] their only victories coming from a 3-1 win over Dzongric and a 2-0 defeat of Druk Star.[1] Together with Druk Star they competed in the relegation play offs together with the top two teams from the B-Division for that season: Motithang and BMW.[1] Full results for the play offs are not known, but it is known that Druk United won the first of their matches, defeating Druk Star 4-3.[1]

The 2014 season has been Druk United's most successful to date. Upon returning to the top flight of Bhutanese football, they won the A-Division,[6] winning by two points from Thimphu City with nine wins and a draw from their twelve games,[6] having come from third place at the halfway stage and made up a six point deficit in the second half of the season.[6] Their victory in the A-Division assured them of qualification for the National League for the first time. Their first time competing in the National League was equally successful. They finished in first place on goal difference ahead of Ugyen Academy, dropping points only in a 2-2 draw against Ugyen Academy and in losses to Druk Pol, 2-1, and Thimphu City 3-0.[6] They won all of their remaining games, including a 4-0 victory over Bhutan Clearing, despite having both Ugyen Tsheten and Nawang Dhendup sent off.[7] In winning the league, and with the abolition of the AFC President's Cup, they became the first team from Bhutan to qualify to play in the AFC Cup, although in fact from 2016 onwards, since Ugyen Academy was eiminated in group stage of President's Cup. Therefore national championship 2015 will give the first bhutanese participant in AFC Cup.

Current squad

As of 2014:[8] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Bhutan DF Pema Rinchen
Bhutan DF Mon Bahadur Gurung
Bhutan MF Kinga Gyeltshen
Bhutan MF Sonam Yoezer
Bhutan MF Tenzin Dorji
No. Position Player
Bhutan MF Thinley Dorji
Bhutan FW Kinley Dorji
Bhutan FW Kesang Tshering
Bhutan FW Diwas

Achievements

2014
2014
2012

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel; Jigmi, Sonam (20 Feb 2014). "Bhutan 2013". www.rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Schöggl, Hans; Hai Naveed, Malik Riaz (5 Jun 2004). "Bhutan 2003". www.rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel; Jigmi, Sonam (28 Feb 2013). "Bhutan 2012". www.rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Schöggl, Hans (31 Jul 2003). "Bhutan 2002". www.rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Abbink, Dinant (28 May 2014). "Bhutan - List of Champions". www.rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Stokkermans, Karel; Jigmi, Sonam (22 May 2014). "Bhutan 2014". www.rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Phuntsho, Tashi (8 August 2014). "9-man Druk United put four across Bhutan Clearing". kuenselonline.com. Kuensel Online. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  8. ↑ Yeshay, Karma Loday (2 May 2014). "Druk United’s decisive 8-3 win". www.kuenselonline.com. Kuensel Online. Retrieved 27 June 2014.