Karma Dema
Bhutan’s Karma Dema is one of the 20 women coaches selected for the pilot edition of the landmark AFC–Japan Football Association (JFA) Pro Diploma course.
At just 32, Dema has already carved her name into Bhutanese football history when, in 2024, she took charge of newly formed Tsirang FC, becoming one of the first women to lead a men’s team in the Bhutan Premier League (BPL).
Now, equipped with an AFC–JFA Pro Diploma following the conclusion of the fourth and final module in October 2025, as well as more than a decade of coaching experience, she is focused on elevating not only her own career, but also the broader football ecosystem in Bhutan.
Despite establishing herself as a reliable left-back for the national team at only 19, it did not take long for Dema to realise that her true calling lay less on the pitch and more on the sidelines.
“I developed a passion for football while playing with my friends, but I realised that I enjoyed guiding younger players a lot more than playing,” the Mongar native recalled. “That is when the idea of becoming a coach truly took shape.”
Encouraged by former national team player and coach Chokey Nima, now a FIFA Regional Technical Consultant, Dema enrolled in her first coaching course in 2014 and has since worked closely with the Bhutan Football Federation’s (BFF) technical department, contributing to grassroots and youth development programmes while also continuing to hone her skills as a coach.
After close to a decade of lending her support across age groups, including a brief stint as Bhutan U20 women’s head coach, Dema was appointed assistant coach with Dagana United FC during their BPL qualification campaign, where her natural leadership qualities subsequently led to her historic appointment as head coach of Tsirang FC ahead of their maiden BPL season.
“Each of the roles that I have undertaken in my career, from coaching grassroots teams to handling more competitive sides, taught me something important,” she said.
“Sometimes it has been about leadership, and at other times it has shown me the importance of passion and resilience.”
Her career reached another milestone in 2025 when she was selected for the pilot edition of the AFC–JFA Pro Diploma, designed to enhance technical expertise and cultivate leadership among elite female coaches from the AFC’s Member Associations.
With the on-site modules supported by virtual lectures, the year-long programme provided participants with insights into the strategic and leadership dimensions of coaching – lessons Dema is determined to apply as she works to open doors for women coaches in Bhutan, while also pursuing her long-term ambition of taking the reins of the Bhutan women’s national team.
“The AFC–JFA Pro Diploma was a great opportunity to learn new skills in various aspects of not just coaching, but life,” she said. “Besides the modules being informative, I had so much fun learning about building relationships and how to prepare for pre-season and make long-term strategic plans.
“I want to use my knowledge and experience to help more female coaches lead teams in top-flight leagues and also become tutors and mentors to bring further growth in women’s football.”
Launched on the AFC Women’s Football Day in 2018, the AFC’s It’s My Game campaign continues to honour inspiring women in football throughout the world’s largest Continent, reaching millions of people via the AFC’s digital channels.
