The Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) has been involved with the development and popularization of football in Bhutan since the early 1980’s only. As our nation is developing nation, the development was hampered in the beginning due to the lack of resources – both financial and human, proper plans and a long term vision.
It was only in the year 2000 when BFF joined FIFA as a member that financial assistance for football as a sport was received. This assistance formally institutionalized the Bhutan Football Federation and provided a stable foundation for the systematic promotion of football in Bhutan.
Bhutan football Academy has been developing young talented elite youth 14 to 19-year-old players, since 2006, through a football program to help them reach their full potential. The results of a survey carried out by the Bhutan Olympic Committee in 2010, indicated that the most popular sport around the country among the youth was football.
With the starting of the grassroots plan and its implementation from the year 2014, the youth development plan was also seen as critical to the entire process. The Youth Development program refers to activities involving young adolescents between 13-20 years.
We believe that providing training program to talented players from all over from Bhutan is an invaluable experience that helps shape young men into not only better players, but also better people. The benefits of such an experience will be embedded positively into that individual.
We also ensure a positive and enjoyable life experience for the children at this critical adolescence age by implementing programs and activities that are physically and socially constructive and providing an alternate form of recreation.
Thus, making responsible citizens out of players through teamwork, hard work, and discipline.
From the year 2006 till 2019, a total of 508 elite players were trained under the youth academy. These players played in all the forms of categories starting from U-13 to Senior National players.
For retention of players, a separate football academies for boys and girls has been constructed under the FIFA Goal projects.
The goal of our organization is to enrich the lives of young children by providing a safe and affordable football program.
The department works with Academies to maintain and enhance good practice, to build up to the youth in Bhutan.