By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, FEB. 3: In an unfortunate incident, former goalkeeper of the Tibetan national team has died in Pokhara, Nepal, under unexplained circumstances on Tuesday morning (Jan. 31). The local police said the investigation for the same is going on.
Tenzin Namgyal, aged 40, was reportedly found unconscious near a cliff in Hemja, Pokhra and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Pokhra police department which holds jurisdiction of the region was cited by Nepali sports website Goalpost.com as saying the investigation is on for the same. Phayul’s source who wishes to remain anonymous said, “At the moment, the investigation is going on so it is too early to comment on anything. The Tibetan community here as well as friends and teammates of the deceased who are native Nepalese have extended support.”
The post mortem was performed on Feb. 1, two days ago. His body was cremated this morning by friends and family in Pokhara.
The deceased who was from Tashi Palkhyel Pokhara Tibetan settlement is the goalkeeper of Pokhra XI, a division-A team and had played for the Tibetan National team for a long interval earning many caps. He has also represented team Pokhara in the Tibetan exile football tournament GCMC many times.
Goalpost.com quoted one of his current teammates who wrote in Facebook, “I can’t believe this. He was supposed to come to Pokhara stadium to watch the final of inter ward championship this morning. Rest in peace, Namgyal sir. We will miss you.”
Tibetan national squad teammate and advisory board member of Tibetan National Football Association, Tenzin Khechok told Phayul that Namgyal was a good contributor to Tibetan football. “The Tibetan national team due to funds shortage could not hire separate goalkeeping coaches, but he knew how to train himself. He was calm and read the game very well on field. Off the field he was fun. How many of us remember a good goalkeeper in the community? He often called him Buffon (after the Italian goal keeping legend Gianluigi Buffon).”
Khechok who accompanied Namgyal on Team Tibet International trips to Europe (North Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Holland and Switzerland) in 2008 recalled, “When I came into the squad, he had already been playing for a few years. So being on the bench, he would explain to me on the importance of the 12th man, keeping my spirits up.”
