Courtesy: Kuensel On Line


Nothing much to show

by Phuntsho Choden
Additional reporting by Phuntsho Wangdi

2 June, 2009 - When the football and cricket federations were set up in Bhutan, the plan was to take these two sports out of the confines of Thimphu and develop teams to compete in regional and international tournaments.

Years later, despite generous funds from international federations and the government, the development of these sports has been slow, with poor leadership and infrastructure, say observers, and the talent in the country has not been used well.

Bhutan Football Federation (BFF):

BFF was started in 1983. It became a member of FIFA and the Asian football confederation (AFC) in 2000, with the mandate to develop football in the country. Besides participation in international and regional games, there had to be major in-country competitions too, like league matches for men, women and youth. BFF was also to promote the growth of professional football clubs in Bhutan.

But BFF is struggling to carry out its responsibilities. This despite having received Nu 100m from FIFA till date, Nu 24m from the Asian football committee, including technical help, and more than Nu 45m from the government.

BFF received Nu 24m (USD 500,000) in 2005 from FIFA as ‘Goal Project’ assistance. Of that, 16 percent, or Nu 3.4m, was to be used to promote women’s football, purchase sports medicine and introduce game Futsal, among others.

A national football player, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions from BFF, said that this part of the fund was not used for its purpose.

“They hired trainees from the health institute during tournaments as physiotherapists, but we haven’t seen or heard about sports medicine,” he said.

BFF has one permanent female coach and no women technical staff such as referees. The national football player said that nobody knew where the money was spent. BFF does not have a national Futsal team nor does it promote the game, although it received funds and technical support for years.

“They did nothing to introduce or promote Futsal, but a national team from Bhutan, nonetheless, went to play in Vietnam in 2005. That was pure eye-wash,” said a former BFF member.

BFF has registered A, B, and C divisions clubs, which are all Thimphu based. It gives Nu 100,000 each to eight A division clubs, Nu 60,000 to eight B division and Nu 15,000 to C clubs to survive. But sources say that the clubs are left to run on their own without anyone to monitor the use of funds given annually. All tournaments in Thimphu are held in Changjiji football ground, which remains in a poor state. The training centre is Changjiji has about 40 young players, who are provided with lodging, tuition fees, uniforms and lodging.

BFF officials said that a chunk of their funds is also spent while taking teams for outside competitions. “We spend more than Nu 4.5m annually on TA/DA alone,” said BFF secretary general, Ugyen Wangchhuk. “Each trip cost us about Nu 2m.”

BFF has 19 staff, including coaches and technical staff. The federation till date has never elected a president as is required by their charter.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com