The ongoing first edition of Bhutan Football Federation’s President’s Cup at Gyalpoizhing college is perceived as a boon by the business community of the town in Monggar. They are looking forward to making the most of the event even if it means just two weeks. The tournament will end on the 15th of this month.
The restaurants, which remained without much visitors until recently, are getting filled. The footballers and officials would visit them for a drink or to grab some snacks or a meal every day. It means a good business for the restaurant owners who have been running in loss amid the pandemic.
Jigme, who runs a restaurant in Gyalpoizhing town, said he can earn about Nu 10,000 every day since the tournament began. “Many people including the footballers have gathered at Gyalpoizhing. It means profit for us even if they drink a bottle of water or a cup of porridge. Prior to the tournament, we could hardly earn enough to pay house rent. We could hardly earn only about Nu 1000 in a day.”
The tournament is also benefitting the hoteliers with most of their hotel rooms booked by the officials accompanying the footballers.
“Only few costumers used to visit our hotel but these days due to the football tournament, all our rooms are booked by the officials,” said Seldon, a hotelier in Gyalpoizhing.
“Although our hotel is a bit small to accommodate the footballers, we can accommodate the club owners. So, it is benefiting us when they live and eat in our hotel,” said Chedup, another hotelier.
And it doesn’t end there. The retail shops and the vegetable vendors of Gyalpoizhing are reaping equal benefit.
Seven teams including the top five clubs from the Bhutan premier League are competing in the BFF President’s Cup that kicked off from Wednesday. According to the officials from BFF, the President’s Cup is the biggest tournament being organised in the east to promote football and to engage the top five clubs during the off season.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
Edited by Phub Gyem
