Appointment of Technical and Coaching Personnel for Women’s Football Development
The Bhutan Football Federation is proud to welcome two accomplished international professionals who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of women’s football in the Kingdom.
Anjana “Anju” Turambekar Appointed Technical Director & U-17 Head Coach
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Anjana Turambekar as the Technical Director of the Girls Academy in Gelephu and Head Coach of the U-17 Women’s National Team.
Hailing from Maharashtra, India, Anju is widely regarded as a trailblazer in Indian and Asian football. Her journey is a powerful story of resilience, self-belief, and determination, having overcome social and infrastructural challenges to rise to the top of the game.
An AFC ‘A’ Licensed Coach and one of India’s youngest female coaches to achieve this milestone, Anju brings with her a wealth of experience across technical leadership, grassroots development, and elite youth football. Her impressive portfolio includes key roles such as:
- Head of Grassroots Development at the All India Football Federation
- Technical Head for the FIFA U-17 World Cup (MXIM Project)
- AFC Grassroots Panel & Technical Expert
- AFC Youth Panel Member and Technical Analyst
- International coaching experience in Singapore
Beyond her technical expertise, Anju is deeply committed to using football as a vehicle for social change. Through her work with the AT Foundation, she has empowered rural youth, especially girls, by integrating football with education and life skills.
Her appointment marks a significant step forward in developing the next generation of Bhutan’s “Dragon Girls,” both on and off the pitch.
Joining alongside, Anju is Mario Leandro Silva, who takes on the role of Fitness Coach for the National Women’s Academy and Head Coach of the U-14 Women’s National Team.
A Portuguese coach with a rich multicultural background, Mario’s football journey spans Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Portugal. Developed through elite European academy systems, he earned promotion to the senior team at just 17, competing against renowned clubs such as Sporting CP and AFC Ajax.
Mario began his coaching career in 2002 with Excelsior Virton, working with youth teams before progressing to senior teams in Luxembourg’s top divisions. Upon returning to Portugal, he founded a football club in Setúbal, earning recognition for his visionary approach to player development.
Fluent in multiple languages and experienced across diverse football cultures, Mario brings a strong foundation in fitness, tactical awareness, and high-performance training environments.
The addition of Anju and Mario represents a major boost to Bhutan’s growing women’s football program. Their combined expertise in youth development, high-performance coaching, and grassroots empowerment will be instrumental in nurturing the next generation of talent.
As Bhutan continues to invest in women’s football, their leadership is set to inspire, develop, and elevate the future stars of our beloved Dragon Girls.
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