𝐑𝐓𝐂 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲

…𝑹𝑻𝑪 𝑾𝑭𝑪 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒆 3-0 𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏’𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚

By Tashi Tshewang

Royal Thimphu College (RTC) Women’s Football Club (WFC) clinched the Bank of Bhutan (BoB) Bhutan Women’s National League 2025 title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Transport United Ladies, concluding months of spirited competition in a finale that celebrated both skill and teamwork.

The final match saw RTC WFC dominate from start to finish, securing a 2-0 lead by halftime before extending it to three in the second half. Their disciplined approach, tactical sharpness, and creative play left Transport United with little room to respond.

Adding to the club’s triumph, Deki Lhazom of RTC WFC was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season, while Tohuna Khatan earned the Woman of the Match title for her outstanding performance in the final. The team’s unity and precision reflected the steady growth of women’s football in Bhutan, a sport that continues to inspire young girls across the country.

Transport United Ladies, who finished as second runners-up overall and received the Fair Play Award, were also praised for their sportsmanship and consistency throughout the season. Their coach, Karma Dema, was honored as the Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) President’s Coach of the Year, recognizing her leadership and the team’s progress.
Paro FC Women’s secured the first runners-up position, while Transport United Ladies finished third, followed by Thimphu City WFC, Girls Academy Gelephu (U20), Ugyen Academy WFC, Gelephu Academy Girls (U17), Gelephu City WFC, Phuentsholing Heroes, and Samtse FC.

The closing ceremony, graced by Zimbiri, Chairperson of the BFF Women’s Football Committee, underlined the growing recognition and investment in women’s football. The event celebrated not only competition but also empowerment and commitment among female athletes.

In a statement, the Bhutan Football Federation expressed gratitude to its sponsors, the Bank of Bhutan (main sponsor), Drukair Corporation Limited, and Bhutan Telecom Limited, for their continued support in promoting women’s football and sustaining the league’s growth.

As RTC WFC lifted the trophy, their triumph became more than a victory. It symbolized perseverance, teamwork, and the rising spirit of women’s football in Bhutan. The 2025 season reaffirmed that Bhutanese women’s football is thriving and steadily inspiring a new generation to dream, train, and achieve.

Ugyen Dorji, Technical Director of RTC FC, said, “As we focus on our training for the game, we make sure every player understands the game plan clearly. Every session is designed to build coordination, confidence, and understanding among the players. We don’t just train for fitness, we train to perfect our movement, our pressing, and our finishing. In the first league match, we drew with Transport Ladies United, but we stayed composed. Instead of being disappointed, we analyzed our performance, identified what went wrong, and continued to strengthen our areas of improvement.

We remain calm and focused, because football is about patience, teamwork, and learning from every experience. We have worked hard on our tactics and are ready to execute our game plan more effectively when we meet them again.”
Following their first match, the RTC Women’s team demonstrated remarkable maturity and resilience. The draw did not affect their spirit; instead, it became a moment of reflection and growth. Every player took responsibility to contribute more to the team, and the collective effort during training sessions helped build greater synchronization, trust, and energy within the squad. Their disciplined approach and commitment to process reflect the football philosophy that defines RTC’s sporting culture.

He added, “We believe in playing attacking football because it reflects our identity. RTC FC has always built its football culture on passion, teamwork, and positivity. From the very beginning, our philosophy has been to develop players who understand the game, respect each other, and play for the team, not for themselves. We always tell our players that our culture is built on one simple belief: there is no ‘I’ in the team. Every goal we score, every tackle we make, and every victory we celebrate belongs to everyone. That’s what makes us RTC united, humble, and hungry to grow together.”

Denka, the Ugyen Academy Coach, shared, “Overall, I am really proud of our team’s performance this season. We showed consistency, resilience, and a much stronger sense of unity compared to last year. One of the biggest areas of growth was our communication both on and off the field. The players really learned how to support each other, trust one another, and stay focused under pressure. We also improved tactically; our decision-making and adaptability in tight situations were much better this year. Of course, there’s always room to grow, but this group has taken major strides in maturity, teamwork, and commitment to the game.”

The Ugyen Academy Women’s team concluded their season on a positive note, showing steady growth in teamwork, discipline, and game understanding. Despite challenges such as injuries and the pressure of maintaining consistency against strong opponents, the team’s unity and positive mindset kept them motivated. Their focus on learning from setbacks and celebrating small victories helped sustain morale and strengthen their bond as a cohesive unit.

She added, “Every season comes with its own challenges, and this one was no different. We had to deal with injuries, tough losses, and the constant pressure to stay consistent. What truly kept us going was our determination, we focused on what we could control and reminded the players that setbacks are part of growth. Looking ahead, our main focus for next season will be on maintaining consistency and building depth in the squad. We also want to continue nurturing young talent and ensuring a smooth transition from grassroots to the senior team.

Ugyen Academy has been investing a lot in grassroots development through youth training programs, school outreach, and mentorship for young girls passionate about football. Our long-term goal is to build a strong pathway for female players across Bhutan and contribute meaningfully to the growth of women’s football in the country.”

Tshering Choden, a player of Transport United FC, shared, “I just feel that fan support and recognition are extremely important in helping all athletes push through tough matches. It gives us motivation, confidence, and determination, especially during difficult moments when games get intense or results don’t go our way. The energy from the fans, their cheers, belief, and presence can completely change the way we play. It reminds us why we love this sport and why we fight until the final whistle.”

For Tshering Choden and her teammates at Transport United FC, emotional and mental strength have been as crucial as technical skills throughout the season. The encouragement from fans and the football community has often served as an inspiration during challenging matches. The team recognizes that football is not only about tactics and skill but also about spirit- the connection between players, supporters, and the broader football family that drives performance and resilience on the pitch.

She concluded, “My biggest challenges this season were mainly tactical and technical. There were recurring difficulties in maintaining consistency and improving certain aspects of my performance. Sometimes, we had to be more grounded and honest with ourselves about what needed to be improved. Another major focus was keeping stamina flowing throughout the game, which required discipline and constant effort. When I look at the broader picture, the growth of women’s football in Bhutan driven by the Bhutan Football Federation’s initiatives and international support is truly inspiring. But to turn this momentum into long-term success, we need a holistic approach that focuses on professionalism, structured player pathways, and deeper cultural integration. That’s how we will build a stronger future for women’s football in Bhutan.”

The 2025 season of the Bhutan Women’s National League not only crowned a new champion but also reaffirmed the rising standard and potential of women’s football in the country. With stronger grassroots programs, growing fan engagement, and consistent institutional support, Bhutan’s female athletes continue to redefine the nation’s sporting identity through discipline, determination, and shared vision.