Bhutan’s National Football Team will battle its first opponent for the World Cup Qualifying Match in a climatic condition the players are not used to. On Thursday, they will be playing against Sri Lanka in Colombo, where average temperature in March rarely dips below 30 degree Celsius. The same month sees a maximum of 16 degree in Thimphu.
But the squad has been acclimatizing and having proper diet in Bangkok Thailand, which the experts say; help, reduce the adverse effects of unfavourable climatic condition.
The weather in Bangkok is similar to that of Colombo at this time of year.
One of the players, Chencho Gyeltshen said they had a difficult time practising when they first came to Bangkok. “It was difficult to breath. We used to get headache.”
They have been in Bangkok for about a week. “We feel better now and we are confident,” said Chencho Gyeltshen.
They practice twice a day in Thailand. The team has already played two matches with local football clubs. They lost one and second match was a draw.
The Team Manager, Hishey Tshering said the opponent team’s intent of keeping the game at 2 PM in Sri Lanka is to make best use of their home play to their advantage. “They know we are from high altitude and cold place.”
He said Thai Football Association was generous to assist their training.
The squad’s coach, Tsukitate Norio said climatic condition is no excuse. “Football is football. If you stop running, you lose.”
The team left for Sri Lanka today.
