A throw in. Less than 20 minutes on the clock in the match against NorthEast United FC. The ball is launched high in the air and into the box. Juanan flicks it on and, in a flash, Chencho Gyeltshen slips his marker and slides in the winner. A goal to mark his last outing in the blue of Bengaluru FC. The striker, who struggled for playing time since his switch to the Indian Super League side in the summer after leading an unfancied Minerva Punjab to the I-League title, was mobbed.

Well prior to kickoff, the Bhutanese star knew he was on his way to NEROCA FC. But the celebration didn't seem like a "goodbye", what with teammates, coaches and touchline staffs all piling onto him with infectious enthusiasm.

It felt more like a "see you soon". A young boy heading out into the world to find himself, destined to meet his old team again, one way or another. Chencho considers that moment his "happiest" on the football pitch.

The celebrations at the end of the match with his teammates carrying him off on their shoulders and fans screaming his name in unison only adding to the ambiance.

"It was a good farewell for me," Chencho said, his words measured, a paradox to the blistering speed on the field. "I was not sad about moving to NEROCA. I got a good farewell from the team and the fans... I really enjoyed the last match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium."

But that's all in the past now. Chencho has his eyes firmly focused on the task ahead and at the time of speaking had just completed his first training session with his new club. He was back in the I-League.

"It's where I belong," he laughs.

"NEROCA are a good team, they have great support and I feel good. I am a bit worried though... I'm new to this team and in three days we have a game. I'm worried about team combination, but otherwise it's all good."

Chencho scored on debut, coming in at the far post to turn in a free-kick, in a 2-1 away loss against title contenders East Bengal. Eerily, his first goal here had a canny resemblance to his last for BFC. He scored again, the next game, against league leaders Chennai City FC to throw the title race wide open once again. He had arrived in the I-League... again. Now, it was time to kick on.

At the time when he chose to don the BFC crest, Chencho was arguably one of the hottest properties in Indian football -the Bhutanese Ronaldo, as he is called back home, who shouldered Minerva's title challenge.

With a settled front three all blessed with game-changing ability, it was always going to be a tough ask for him to break into Bengaluru's first eleven. Chencho knew it too. His skill sets were different, all pace, trickery and lethal finish.

"Chencho is an explosive player," Carles Cuadrat, BFC coach, said at that time. "He is not a player for possession ball game, he is more a player to break the defense of a team and give us that goal."

Chencho said: "I was pretty sure it would be tough to break into the first eleven because of how strong they are. All their foreign players are very experienced and they are one of the best clubs in India. It's (the move) not only decided by me, I decided with my family and friends. Most of them advised me to make that move."

But in a way, Chencho's is a career that is lived by more than one. He embodies football in Bhutan. He is the hometown boy who made it big.

"Bhutan football… in the last 3-4 years has improved a lot," Chencho said. "I'm the only professional player playing abroad, most of the players there are studying or working," he says giving a peek into a largely amateur system back home. "Winning the I-League last season... it's one of my greatest achievements. After I joined a professional league, we lifted the trophy and it was the biggest thing I've managed.

"I'm happy to be the hope for all players in Bhutan. If there was nobody playing in India, then they wouldn't have hoped to play in India in the future. Now, I've opened the door for all the players and I'm happy that I was able to do that. Some Bhutan players have got chances to come to India for trials and one player recently joined in the second division. So football there is getting more popular now."

But there's no pressure, Chencho, who holds his country's 100m record with a time of 11.3 seconds, says: "Bhutan has supported me immensely. Even the fans and players back home. There is no pressure from the fans back home. The people back home are my strength."

But with just two goals in nine appearances spanning 358 minutes, the team needed more. And Chencho needed more too. More time on the field to grow, to build, to improve, to realise his potential. Despite an already storied career, the 22-year-old had much to learn. Nevertheless, the goals he scored, both against NorthEast United FC-the first an acrobatic bicycle-kick that betrayed his Taekwondo training - impacted the result.

"The main thing (for moving to NEROCA), is time on the field," he said. "The coach wanted me to play more games and get some experience as well. I am young and I'm still learning. I am very happy with the kind of support from the fans. It's all good compliments at this age, but I still have a long way to go. I still want to get better and be one of the best players in South Asia."

His old team will be keenly watching how he tackles the learning curve. "Chencho has shown a fantastic attitude in training," said Cuadrat. "With the players that we have, we play a certain style of football and so it was a strategic decision to loan him out. We will be keeping notes on his progress with NEROCA, because he is a young player who we are sure will improve with each performance."

Whether a return to BFC is on the cards or whether he stays on with NEROCA, who have been impressive in the I-League, it's all part of the process for Chencho. "In football, anything can happen. Sometimes football can make you happy and sometimes sad. So the best thing is to keep looking forward and never give up."

