The race for Tier I qualification of the Women’s National League is heating up. As the first round reaches its midway point, no team can afford to drop their guard. Gelephu Girls Academy Under-20 are setting the pace at the top of the table, but the chasing pack is breathing down their necks. Here’s our reporter Namgay Wangdi with the latest.
Gelephu Girls Academy Under-20 are firmly in the driving seat with 12 points from five matches. The side has recorded four wins, a loss and a tally of 27 goals already this season.
But the title of table-toppers alone will not be enough. What matters most here is finishing in the top six. And that’s where the drama lies.
Close behind is RTC Women’s FC with nine points from three matches and not a single goal conceded. The club also records the league’s best goal difference of 23.
Gelephu Girls Academy Under-17 occupies third place with eight points from seven matches. Gelephu City Women’s FC follows in fourth position with seven points from four games.
Thimphu City Women’s FC and Paro Women’s FC are fifth and sixth respectively, both on six points and currently occupying the final qualification spots for Tier I.
Transport United Ladies sit seventh with four points, while Ugyen Academy Women’s FC is eighth with three points.
At the bottom of the table, Tsirang Women’s FC and United Phuentsholing Women’s FC have managed one point each after four and seven matches, respectively.
Ten teams are taking part in this year’s competition. At the end of the first round, the top six teams will advance to Tier I of the Women’s National League, while the remaining four teams will compete in the National Championship, which serves as Tier II.
Each club will play nine matches before the first-round standings are finalised, leaving several teams with an opportunity to improve their positions in the coming weeks.
Namgay Wangdi
