More than a week into the Thimphu league 2018, defending champions, Thimphu City FC, has the highest of six points in the table after winning matches against Druk United FC and Druk Stars FC.

Thimphu City was the champions of the league for the last two years. The team to win the league in a streak after Yeedzin FC won the league in 2010 and 2011.

Despite the club losing its striker Chencho Gyeltshen to I-league team, Minerva Punjab FC and a midfielder Orgyen Wangchuk Tshering this edition, the club has managed to win both the games.

The club’s new signing Mipham Jigme scored a winning goal in the second game against Druk Star FC last week in Changlingmithang.

National champions Transport United FC has scored three points and will play debutant, Phuensum FC this week.

Transport United led the league with a goal difference of three in the first game week after defeating Thimphu FC 0-3 on April 24. The former ended as the first runners-up and the latter as second runners-up in the previous edition.

With two matches played so far, Druk Star, and High Quality FC follow the table with three points each. The duo has suffered a loss and a win each to date.

Thimphu league 2018 so far was promising to the new signings of the participating clubs. Of the total 14 players that entered the score sheet, seven playing with new clubs have scored.

In the match between Druk United and High Quality FC last week, Jigme Tsheltrim, the former Thimphu FC player, and Chuma Dorji, the former Ugyen Academy FC striker scored a goal each when the club defeated Druk United FC 3-1 on April 29.

Mipham Jigme, former Ugyen Academy player who is currently playing with Thimphu City FC scored a decider against Druk Star.

The race to become the top scorer of the league is between Sonam Tobgay of Transport United and Kabi Raj Rai of High Quality United with two goals each.

The league saw Diwash Subha from Thimphu City scoring the first goal of the league for this edition. The striker scored the opener against Druk United at the opening match of the league on April 21.

Sonam Tobgay from Transport United was the first player to score a brace. The combined effort of two forwards, Dawa Tshering and Sonam Tobgay, handed Transport United a 3-0 win over Thimphu FC that finished third in the previous edition.

The league has played six matches to date. However, with clubs fielding strong players and maximum foreign player this season, three players were given red cards and about four yellow cards so far.

Of the eight clubs taking part in the league, Thimphu City, Tensung FC, and High Quality United FC has no foreign signings.

The league ends on August 8. Three top teams from the league will qualify to play the national league later this year.

Nima

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