Paris, November 13 - The under thirteen - national football team arrived here yesterday. The eighteen member squad left for Marseille, southern France, yesterday evening. The team will play against schools in Monaco, Marseille and Dijon.

The entire visit of the team is arranged by Mr. Thierry Marcade, a physical education teacher in Marseille. The team is led by manager Sonam Sichoe, coach Phuntsok Dorjee, and assisted by Mrs. Dekyi Wangmo as translator.

On arrival in Paris yesterday, the team visited the Bureau du Tibet (Office of Tibet), Paris, where the Representative Mr. Tashi Phuntsok welcomed them with Tibetan scarves. They were later hosted lunch by the office.

The players are Ngawang Migmar, Tenzin Choephel, Wangchen Phuntsok, Dhondup Yougyal, Tenzin Dedhen, Tenzin Yewong, Jampa Tenzin, Tenzin Norbu, Palden Tsering, Phurbu Samdup, Tenzin Namgyal, Shawo Choeden, Tenzin Wangchuk, Tenzin Yonten and Tenzin Namgyal.

The team was at a training camp at T.C.V School, Suja, before their departure for France. The players from different schools, while practicing, also attended school at T.C.V, Suja.

The senior team earlier did not get visa to travel to France. It later toured Denmark and upon return to India took part in the ‘Governor’s Cup’ football tournament held in Gangtok, Sikkim.

The junior team is scheduled to be in France till 1 December 2003.