Yeshi Dorji
Yeshi Dorji (born on 10 October 2001) is a Bhutanese international footballer, currently playing for Paro FC.[1][2]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Yeshi Dorji | ||
Date of birth | 10 October 2001 | ||
Place of birth | Thimphu, Bhutan | ||
Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Paro | ||
Number | 11 | ||
Youth career | |||
2014–2017 | Druk Stars FC U16 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018–2020 | Ugyen Academy F.C. | ||
2020– | Paro FC | ||
International career‡ | |||
2019 | Bhutan U18 | 4 | (0) |
2019–2021 | Bhutan U20 | 6 | (2) |
2019– | Bhutan U23 | 5 | (1) |
2019– | Bhutan | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2023 |
Club career
Yeshi spent his youth career with Druk Stars FC U16. In 2018, he joined Ugyen Academy FC, where he developed his skills. Yeshi represented High Quality United FC during their 2020 Bhutan Super League truimph and received Nu 10,000 for being the highest goalscorer.[3]
He joined Paro FC for the 2020 Bhutan Premier League phase and scored 8 goals in 10 games. Yeshi won the 2021 Bhutan Premier League with Paro FC and received the Bhutan Premier League Top Scorer Award along the way with 23 goals from 17 games.[4]
In January 2020, Yeshi signed a contract with a German football agency, TF Sports, and had a successful trial with VfB Fichte Bielefeld in the Landesliga Westfalen (VII) (Germany sixth division). He was about to become the first Bhutanese to play in Europe, but had to return home because of a visa issue and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan. In 2021, he received an offer to play on trial in the Cypriot Second Division, but eventually turned it down due to the travel cost.[5]
International career
Youth
At the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers, Yeshi scored as Bhutan snatched a surprising 2–1 victory over Bangladesh. He scored against Nepal in the 2019 SAFF U-18 Championship, as Bhutan trashed the hosts 3–0. Yeshi was one of the key players in the 2019 South Asian Games in Nepal where Bhutan won the silver medal. During the tournament he struck a goal against Sri Lanka in a 3–1 victory.[6]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 22 September 2019 | APF Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal | ![]() | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2019 SAFF U-18 Championship |
2. | 10 November 2019 | Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Manama, Bahrain | ![]() | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualification |
3. | 7 December 2019 | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal | ![]() | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2019 South Asian Games |
Last updated 30 March 2023 |
Senior
He made his first appearance for the Bhutan national football team in 2019 against Guam during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and became the only footballer in the country to play all youth levels (U-18, U-19, U-23), and make his senior national team debut in only 149 days.[5]
References
- Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Yeshi Dorji II (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com.
- "Yeshi Dorji - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com.
- "Bhutan Super League 2020". Facebook.
- "Official Stats". Facebook.
- Newspaper, Bhutan's Daily. "A rising national football player". Kuensel Online.
- Pokhrel, Nishant (September 23, 2019). "Bhutan stun Nepal, enter semi-finals". The Himalayan Times.