By Hali Moore
Coconuts Staff Writer
High in the Himalayas, in the world’s highest country, a seasoned coach rediscovered the pure, beating heart of baseball. For 17 transformative months, Marvin “Merv” Moore embedded himself in the Kingdom of Bhutan, a journey that would challenge his loneliness, reshape his coaching philosophy, and ultimately rekindle the passion that led to the Bohol Coconuts.
Arriving in Thimphu, Coach Merv encountered a sporting landscape dominated by football (soccer). Yet, he saw a unique opportunity.
“The lack of overwhelming success from the Bhutanese footballers on the international stage,” Coach Merv observed, “meant there was a genuine opening for baseball and softball to capture the nation’s imagination and become a major sport.”
He envisioned a program that stretched far beyond the capital. His master plan was ambitious: to train young athletes nationwide, planting the seeds of the game in remote villages and creating a truly national talent pool, rather than concentrating resources solely in Thimphu.
This vision was fueled by the infectious energy of the Bhutanese youth. Their raw passion for learning the game, despite limited resources and infrastructure, began to reignite a fire inside the veteran coach. He found immense joy in their progress, but his top priority became sustainability.
“I missed coaching, but my most important job was to train the Bhutanese coaches,” coach Merv states. By empowering local leaders like Jigrel, Sanjeevan, Tshering, Choki, Jechen, and BBSA President Karma Dorji, he aimed to build a system that would thrive long after his departure.
Life in Bhutan was a profound mix of professional purpose and personal solitude. Coach Merv found comfort in the local cuisine—plates of fried rice, hearty chicken curry, and ema datshi, the beloved national dish of spicy chili and melted cheese. Yet, the experience was shadowed by a deep personal ache. His wife, Lerma, was unable to join him after her visa application was denied.
“It was one of the saddest days of my life,” Coach Merv recalls, his regret still palpable. “I hated calling and telling her she couldn’t come to Thimphu.”
The path to Bhutan itself was a pivot. In 2017, Coach Merv had signed a two-year contract to coach at a prestigious Chinese sports academy. However, when his wife’s visa was denied for that position as well, he made a decisive choice for family over career, turning down the China opportunity. This led him to Bhutan, where the question lingered: Was this still his calling?
The answer came during long hours spent brainstorming how to accelerate development in a country with unique constraints. With limited days suitable for practice and games, Bhutan’s program would be competing against others nations with the same limitations. This reality shaped a pragmatic, yet passionate, goal.
“I became satisfied with the idea of training a Bhutan national team that could beat Nepal and compete with a few other countries,” Coach Merv says. “It was about building pride and progress, step by step.”
A poignant moment of connection came during a youth camp in the breathtaking Phobjikha Valley. As Coach Merv celebrated his birthday far from home, a group of children serenaded him with “Happy Birthday.” That trip, surrounded by staggering natural beauty and the genuine warmth of the people, cemented his love for the country and its mission.
The Bhutan chapter, while central, was part of a broader journey. A subsequent two-month stint in Nepal revealed a “wealth of young talent,” but was hampered by a lack of structured youth development programs and cut short when Coach Merv tore his Achilles tendon in December 2023. It was on the flight home, 30,000 feet above the Pacific, that the weary coach decided to retire from international roaming and plant his flag permanently in Bohol.
But Bhutan’s imprint is everlasting. It’s where he fell back in love with the developmental grind—the joy of teaching fundamentals and the profound impact of sport on young lives. The fire stoked by the Bhutanese kids now burns at the heart of the Bohol Coconuts.
His commitment to the Dragon Kingdom endures. Coach Merv plans for the Coconuts to assist the Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association (BBSA) through equipment donations—like baseball pants, caps, and socks—once the club’s Volunteer Abroad Program launches.
“I will always treasure my time in Bhutan,” Coach Merv added. “The Coconuts will be assisting the BBSA in a variety of ways in the future. That connection, and those kids, reminded me why I do this.”
