I-League: Ex-Bengaluru FC forward Chencho Gyeltshen set to join RoundGlass Punjab

Chencho Gyeltshen had lit up the I-League back in 2017-18 when he almost single-handedly drove Minerva Punjab FC to their maiden title in their debut season. The Bhutanese forward is set to return to the same club, albeit under new ownership and with a new branding, after a gap of three seasons.

Indeed, Chencho will join RoundGlass Punjab FC ahead of the upcoming I-League season, having left his native club Paro FC, The Bridge can confirm.

The 24-year-old had been plying his trade in the Bhutan Premier League for Paro but when an offer came by to return to India, he could not refuse. After all it was in this country, at the very same club, where he first shot to limelight. His seven goals from 17 appearances in the I-League back in 2017-18 was one of the main reasons behind Minerva’s success.

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On the back of his performances, Chencho was signed by Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Bengaluru FC in the summer of 2018. However, things did not go according to plan as he was mostly restricted to the bench. The club already had the likes Miku and Sunil Chhetri in their ranks which meant Chencho got little chance to show his mettle.

Despite that, he finished with two goals in the 358 minutes of ISL action he got before moving out on loan to NEROCA FC in the winter transfer window. At the I-League club, he scored twice in five appearances before the 2018-19 season ended.

https://twitter.com/Che7cho/status/1222572331622715392

Despite having several offers, Chencho would then return to his homeland, specifically to help Paro FC in their AFC Cup qualification campaign. He scored three goals in four matches and assisted once. Paro won the first round, beating Sri Lankan club Defenders SC over two legs but the team crashed out after losing to Bengaluru FC in the second round of AFC Cup qualification. The forward also scored a hattrick in his team's 8-0 victory over Drukstar FC in this season's Bhutan Premier League opener.

RoundGlass Punjab would largely welcome this move having lost Aser Pierrick Dipanda and youngsters Makan Winkle Chote and Himanshu Jangra in the summer. With the I-League mandating an Asian player in the squad, Chencho also fulfils that criteria for the team. It will be interesting to see how the team fairs once the season gets going.

Also read: Indian Arrows duo set to return to RoundGlass Punjab FC despite offers from ISL