Dharamshala June 1 – The Tibetan national football team, which took part in its first ever international tournament, did not have a good show of performance on the football field but it had a tremendous show of national pride on another field, garnering international support. The proud Tibetans, with their hands held high against their chests, sang their national anthem before the start of every game as thousands of supporters waved the Tibetan national flag in full enthusiasm. Traditional khataks were exchanged at the start of the games in a symbolic mood.
In the first match against Republik St. Pauli, which comprised of a few professionals, the Tibetans lost by seven goals to nil. Despite the loss, the cheerful fans call the Tibetans ‘winner of hearts’.
6 Teams from Zanzibar/Tanzania, Gibraltar/Spain, Northern-Cyprus/Turkey, Greenland/Denmark, Republik of St. Pauli/Germany and Tibet took part in the tournament that will have completed a few days before 32 countries having FIFA recognition meet for the football’s most prestigious tournament in the same country.
In another match against Gibraltar, the Tibetans lost by 5 goals to nil. The team is virtually out of the game but it turned out to be a contest where both the teams leave the field, as one Danish writer put it, in sheer joy and happiness.
Hilmer, a Tibet supporter and a football fan, says that the Tibetans had a few close chances of bringing back some glory but that they were not so lucky to have begun their international tournament debut with a goal. The Tibetan squad had only one professional player from Schaffhausen Football Club, Switzerland.
A Tibetan football fan says that the Tibetan side is very inexperienced because of poor facility and coaching. “Our team has a lot of over-aged players. We need to include more young players,” he adds.
The Tibetan side was also showered with a lot of hospitality in Germany from diasporic Tibetans who hosted several meals and sightseeing for the squad. The Tibetan team is also to play some friendly matches during the remaining few days of their tour. Organisers had printed Tibetan flags and official souvenirs of the team for the supporters to buy.
