February 23, 2009: Until a year ago ‘Bhutanese in exile’ was the symbolic shadow under which we used to stand. September 2008, came as a great beacon light of hope to the thousands of Bhutanese youths who had lit the flame of gender discrimination, deprived from the justice and right they deserved. The day when some of our feet landed on the Australian soil, hopes had finally opened to live a better and a healthier life. They had a dream, a dream to step up with a plea that shall always march ahead and do something progressive in life.
With a little hope of promoting Bhutanese people and culture, two girls team (Druk FC A and Druk FC B) from Sydney-based Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA) participated in an indoor soccer competition organized by Football United, a youth football development program officially supported by FIFA. Druk FC A comprises of Hemanta Acharya (captain), Kabita Dhungel, Sumitra Monger Khadka, Indira Kafley, Indira Dhungel, Goma Acharya, Bhima Adhakari while Druk FC B includes Ambika Dhungel (captain), Bhagi Dhaurali, Radhika Dhaurali, Geeta Dhungel, Januka Acharya, Tulsa Dhungel and Keshavi Bhandari.
Indoor soccer is a new concept of soccer played inside an enclosed building with the total field area just a bit bigger than a basketball court. Having slightly different rules than we usually play on open field, each team has only five players including a goal keeper. The competitions which ran from December 28 2009 to February 7, 2010 brought together 8 teams of Sydney’s different football clubs and communities. Those 8 teams were divided with four teams in each group with both teams from Bhutanese community falling in same.
Both Bhutanese teams seemed to be struggling in their first match as they took time in understanding the rules of the games , for they were playing for the first time inside an enclosed premises against highly trained and physically stronger players. But at the end, enthusiasm and passion on soccer helped both teams to be qualified for the semi finals. Druk FC B lost finals in penalty shootouts and ended up in the first runner up. Druk FC A lost the semis and won the 3rd place playoffs 3-2. Kabita Dhungel won the best and fairest players award.
A star female player from A-league club Central Coast Mariners presented the trophy, medals and certificates to the players.
Speaking on the second success of Druk FC girls team, first being success for securing third position in Football United outdoor soccer festival last October, Hemanta Acharya said that the cooperation in the team, passion and support from community members were keys behind success.
Hemanta Acharya, who had led ‘Druk FC A’ to the third position is chosen in a 16-member team that is representing Australia as the second team to travel South Africa to play a mini World Cup in June 2010. The 16 member team will be going for the selection after a high level of training with coaches of international level. Eight players will be representing Australia including 4 girls and 4 boys. The competition will be between 32 nations in a same format as of major world cup but players in each team are only 8, with 6 playing the match including 3 girls in same team.
Similarly Druk FC boys led by Damber Dhungyel are preparing to face their first soccer match scheduled for March, in Australia, Sydney with four other Nepalese Community soccer teams.These boys are being coached by ex-football keeper of Bhutan National Team (Druk 11) Tahalman Kharka.
i had never read such enthusiastic story.. it encourages other upcoming generations who would have felt scared to step for such decision. this is really a great achievement of Bhutanese community.. keep it up..
What a great news.
You all are the rising sprits of our community.I salute to those who made this arrangement.
No matter you win or you loose.Participation is more important.
I am really proud of all of you there.Here I am enjoying your great deeds.
keep it up.
It is a clear massage to authorities in BHUTAN that the trash they dumped was indeed a treasure.Ain’t these Bhutanese kids a real TREASURE.
Its just a start in foreign soil.The degree of 18 years (time spend in the camp)yet to be displayed.
with regards,
Dear Prawesh,
Thank you for putting your thought here.
You are so correct.This article by Parsu is very inspirational.
Only this new generation of ours need little guidance.
Our job is to explore the event and venue.Our children are ready for the game.
we will definitely see some of this kids in Olympics in later days.Lets explore the possibilities.
You can throw a ball on the ground …when there is no space to go further down ..it will bounce back.
This is WHAT… is happening to Bhutanese communities around the world.They are bouncing back now.
When I compare the kids inside Bhutan. I just like to mediate and pray for them.
They are taught Dzongkha only expect one subject in English.When they come down to Jaigoan.They cannot buy a cup of tea even.
They know Dzonkha only.How can you imagine a child broughtup likethis can be a seientist.
But dont give me a wrong 5% highclass citizens have their kids outside Bhutan and they are getting good education.And this kids will rule the country in the days ahead and our kids from southern and eastern bhutan will be ready for the road construction and low level job.World is too big for this kids inside Bhutan where as kids here carry the world in their hand.
People are blindfolded in the name of GNP.(Gross National Happiness)
It is almost like a HAM JAYA GA JOKE .Give a buffalo a dry grass and put on a green googles so that animal will see green and eat more.
So I like to request all senior daju and didis to put your antinea on the head.Write to the concern authority to drag the country towards the town and not towards the jungle.
All of you deserve a big Hug. Congratulations
This is a sweet surprise and a fountain of inspiration. This is a process towards the making of a complete society and proof of adaptability in the new environment.There are miles to go and ton to un-turn. While the struggle for the regain of lost paradise continues, each individual Bhutanese-in-exile will have to work hard, very hard to make a living and to shine. Besides, the preservation of identity is another struggle. Let each individual take up a job and work on it. Two decades from now Bhutanese community should produce their own Shakespeare, Keats, Bhanubhakta. Devakota, Tagore, Lenon, Bethoven, Maradona, Micheal-Jackson, Narayan-Gopal, Charle-chaplin, Tom-cruze, Newon, Darwin, Micheal-angelo, Norman-Berlog, Charles-Darwin, Jitu-Krishnamurty, Margret-thacher, Indira-Gandhi, Hillary-Clinton, Barack-Obama etc.
Congratulations to all the players.
Best of LUCK to Hemanta Acharya and the boys team.
very exciting,
great news
love you all
The story and the comments here are very inspirational, Thank you all for supporting us, especial thanks to Govinda….
We dont want the world to know Bhutanese being guilty of wrongful deeds,, we dont want the world to know that bhutanese are murderer, kidnappers, street fighters, thefts, robbers, victims of murder, sucides and so on. We dont want the world see the bhutanese disrespectfully, we dont want the world behave us like they do with Indians..
We want the world respect us, we want the people know bhutan and bhutanese with people of peace , people with progress, people with good deeds..
so rather than highlighting and working on those stories with conflicts, i strongly motivate readers and bhutanese people to find out the good works they have done and they are doing, that the world can count on us…
The above story is a small step for that.I know there must be other stories of bhutanese around the globe, work on in and publish.. by this way we contribute bhutanese in camp who are still being the victims of terrorism and the inspiration to the young generation….
Preety inspiring, encouraging and exciting. I am happy for kids in Australia.Keep going.We ain’t goin no down.
Nice article too Parshu.
Hi APFA News Board,
Last week I had sent my opinion regarding “indoor soccer” but so far it did not appear in the column. I am wondering as to why some of the articles are lost or censor by the Board. Let me know about it.
Thank You
DB Adhikari
Arizona
Editor: if it accidentally goes to spam, it will be deleted automatically. sorry for that. we approve comments until they are not defaming.
this is awesome story, very inspirational story
we people at bhutan can feel proud of being bhutanese
all the best hemanta, you go and shine, do it for the people
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You are a Really Professional Blogger, Either have first hand understanding of what your discussing or you did some great research. Many thanks for this excellent post.
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