There may be a lot a criticism, but it is the stepping stone to success. This is what Sonam Tenzin, a formal youth national football player from Tashigang says. The 18-year-old Manchester United fan, who is currently playing for the Thimphu City FC Club went through a tough journey to reach where he is. “It wasn’t easy,” he says, and he tried his best to not give up.  People would not hesitate to criticise him, even if he played one bad game. However, Tenzin took it in a positive way. In fact, it has helped him to get better atthe game, he says.

Passionate about the game, he feels that the sport is developing in the country, year after year. There has also been a rise in the number of talented players joining teams, which gives scope for tough competition. The game is getting more popular because of the growing number of artificial turfs in the country, he says.