Pem Dorji

Pem Dorji was a celebrated Indian professional football defender from the state of Sikkim, who represented the India national football team in international tournaments including the 1984 Asian Cup in Singapore.[2] He also played for Mohammedan Sporting Club.

Pem Dorji
Personal information
Date of birth (1959-01-01) 1 January 1959
Place of birth Gangtok, Sikkim, India
Date of death 18 October 2001(2001-10-18) (aged 42)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1979 Mahendra Police Club
Mohammedan Sporting
East Bengal
Mohammedan Sporting
Mohun Bagan AC
Food Corporation of India
National team
India
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life and career

Born in 1959 in a small hamlet of Ben in South Sikkim to parents Ganesh Kumari Gurung and Gyampu T Chingapa, Pem Dorji completed his education from Scottish University Mission Institute (SUMI) in Kalimpong and later from Pelling Senior Secondary School in West Sikkim.[3][4] From his early childhood days, Dorji started playing football.

His passion for the game made him the part of the first Sikkimese football team which played at the National Championship at Coimbatore in 1976. The game passaged his entry towards the world of football as a professional player. Dorji played predominantly as a defender and midfielder and scripted many memorable performances during a career which stretched almost for a decade.

Club career

Dorji started to play for the renowned football club of India, Mohammedan Sporting Kolkata from 1980 and in 1982 in Calcutta Football League.

Dorji dawn with colours for various clubs including Mahendra Police Club of Nepal,[5] Kolkata-giants East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC alongside Food Corporation of India.

Personal life

Dorji was married to Pushpa Yonzon and the couple have two children Zennyla Bhutia and Marco Bhutia.[6]

Dorji died at a age of 42.[7] He was battling with cancer for long. An incurable disease took his last breath in a nursing home in Calcutta, on 18 October 2001.

International career

He became the first Sikkimese to captain the India national football team in the Pre-Olympic tournament held in Malaysia. Gradually, Dorji represented India in various International matches. He played at the Chinese Great Wall Cup in 1984,[8] and won the prestigious medal for the country.

He later represented India at the South Asian Football Federation Games and further played the famous AFC Asian Cup at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 1988. Dorji represented India in the Jawaharlal Nehru Gold Cup in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1988 alongside Bangladesh President's Gold Cup at Dhaka in 1983, 1984 and 1987.[9][10]

Honours

See also

References
  1. "PEM DORJI PASSES AWAY". The Telegraph. 18 October 2001.
  2. "Recalling Sikkim's legendary football player Late Pem Dorji who captained India for a brief time". The North East Today. 28 May 2017.
  3. Latey Bhakundo: 2011 lateybhakundo.blogspot.com. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  4. Meet the man who inspired Bhaichung Bhutia to take up football The Bridge. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  5. Indian Football Hall of Fame: Pem Dorji indianfootball.de. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  6. Pem Dorji, the star who shone bright but left us too early Summit Times. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  7. Pem Dorji passes away sports.ndtv.com. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  8. The Great Wall Cup China RSSSF. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  9. "President's Gold Cup". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  10. Hughson, John; Moore, Kevin; Spaaij, Ramón; Maguire, Joseph (4 October 2016). Routledge Handbook of Football Studies. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781135074821.
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