RTC Women’s FC is gearing up for their second continental outing as they prepare to compete in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025 Preliminary Stage. Drawn into Group D, the Bhutanese club will face top clubs from Chinese Taipei, North Korea, and host nation Laos, with only the group winner advancing to the main group stage.
The club, founded in 2022, has already appeared twice on the continental stage. Last year, RTC played in the preliminary stage at Changlimithang Stadium against clubs from Hong Kong, China, and Iran but did not qualify for the group stage.
This year, RTC earned their spot after winning the 2024 BOB Bhutan Women’s National League.
To strengthen their squad, the club has recruited seven additional players, including five from Bangladesh, a Mexican-American goalkeeper, and Thimphu City’s captain, Pema Choden Tshering.
RTC hopes their experience and strengthened squad will see them achieve their first-ever qualification into the main group stage competition.
“Last year, we played the AFC. Compared to last year, we have got many good foreign players and Bhutanese players as well. So, we have really good chemistry. We are bonded as sisters and met as a team. So, we are ready to go and play,” said Suk Maya Ghalley, Captain, RTC Women’s FC.
“We are training very hard, with players giving their 100 per cent and officials providing full support. I hope our results will reflect the hard work we have put in,” said Chimi, Manager, RTC Women’s FC.
The preliminary stage features 19 clubs divided into five groups competing in a round-robin format in a centralised venue for a week, starting this Saturday.
Only the five group winners will progress to the Group Stage. They will join direct entrants who are league winners from Australia, South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, the UAE and Iran of the 2024-2025 season.
The 12 teams will then be drawn into groups to contest for spots in the knockout rounds.
Namgay Wangdi
Edited by Kipchu
