By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, MAR. 4: Following the much talked about visa refusal to the Tibetan women’s football team by the United States embassy in New Delhi last week and with some confusing it as the Tibetan national women’s team, the apex Tibetan sports authority recognized by the Central Tibetan Administration, has distanced itself from the team saying it has its own women’s national team.
The Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA), in a statement issued on Friday, said that the team which received global media attention following their visa application rejection was “not affiliated with TNSA program”, indicating that it has its own squad that has represented Tibet in matches in the past.
Passang Dorjee, TNSA Secretary, told Phayul that the office has no knowledge of the development and that it had come to their notice through news.
“Cassie (Childers) and TNSA did not have any communication regarding the team that was to go to US. We maintain that her team is not recognized by the TNSA, which has the official support and recognition of the Central Tibetan Administration,” Dorjee told Phayul
The Statement which was also posted on the website of the Central Tibetan Administration read, “The Tibetan Women Soccer team led by Cassie Childers who has been denied visa by the American Embassy, Delhi recently is not affiliated with TNSA program. TNSA has its own women football team.”
The TNSA Secretary refused to comment over any other contingent questions and requested to refer to the statement published.
The Tibetan women’s team managed by Cassie Childers, their American director was denied US visa on Feb. 26 by the US consulate in New Delhi citing “no good reason to travel to the USA” although having invited as VIP guests by well known football player and manager Gordon Harold Jago, to Dallas Cup, one of the most important friendly youth tournaments in the world.
Childers who has taken her Tibetan women’s team to tournaments around India as well as Germany expressed disappointment for the visa debacle. The incident in light of new US president Donald Trump’s crude travel ban policy was covered by major world media including BBC, AP and sports media ESPN among many others.
The team though not recognized by the apex football body of the exile Tibetan community, the TNSA (Tibetan National Sports Association), is a well respected and admired team having represented Tibet in the Indian sub-continent as well as in Germany in the past.
The apparent rift between TNSA and Cassie Childers had unfolded over unexplained circumstances few years go. Childers was earlier part of the TNSA program before she parted ways with the management over fund related issues.
The TNSA based in TCV School in Dharamshala was founded in the year 2002 and is recognized by the Tibetan exile government, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration.
Cassie’s girls received support from netizens following denial of visa by the US consulate. A petition campaign on change.org seeking support for the girls has been signed by 1,522 people at the time of this report going online.
“The players of Tibet Women’s Soccer want to thank all our supporters and fans. When we huddled on that dusty curb outside the Embassy one week ago, we never imagined the story would go internationally viral and that we would receive so many donations, offers to help, and good wishes from people all over the world. We are all in good spirits. There are many things being put into motion at the moment, and we still have a sliver of hope left. But even if the visas don’t come through, we will keep on going, never giving up,” Cassie wrote on her Facebook.
Though Cassie has not claimed her team ‘Tibet Women’s Soccer’ to be the Tibetan national women’s team affiliated to any sporting body, some of the supporters appear to have thought it was. “I thought it was the Tibetan national women’s team. However, I saw this letter on Facebook. Actually, I was not even aware of anything called Tibetan National Sports Association. I was confused. However, my support to the girls who were denied visa has nothing to do with them being national team or not. I support Tibetan women in any sport, and I urge the US embassy to reconsider its decision,” Tenzin Thinlay, a Tibetan from New Delhi, told Phayul over the phone.
