Internet Desk: Shillong Lajong FC are prepping to make up for their back-to-back defeats in Hero I-League as they are now scheduled to lock their horns with Aizawl FC in the North-eastern Derby.
Aizawl FC are coming to the fixture on the back of a nail-biting win against new entrants Minerva Punjab FC.
Shillong Lajong FC coach Thangboi Singto exclaims their need to start getting points, “We need to play better, as this is to be our third away match and we have not earned ourselves any point as yet.”
However, he lauds his boy’s performance against the likes of Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan, “We are improving, match by match, and we will try to win maximum points tomorrow.”
Singto also readily admits that Khalid Jamil is a tough man to oppose on the pitch, and the match against him will by no means be an easy one.
Khalid Jamil, Aizawl FC coach also doesn’t mince his words to pay due respect to his counterpart at the pre-match press conference, “It is always difficult to play against Thangboi. We will have to be a 100 percent fit both physically and mentally.” Aizawl FC will be able to utilise any player of their choice for the coming match, having no seriously injured players.
Jamid further adds that he will be making a few changes in his team lineup, and will not be starting the match tomorrow with all the same players who started in their match against Minerva Punjab FC. He, however, refuses to divulge in detail his game plan. Home fans will have to watch out if he can come up with a strategy better than the last.
Incidentally, Aizawl FC could find the net only once so far in the Hero I-League as the winning goal against Minerva Punjab FC was an own goal netted by Loveday in the added time. In spite of this wary aspect, Khalid Jamil asserts, “We have good strikers. It may take time, but they will score.”
Aizawl FC captain Alfred Jaryan also insists, “Football is a team game, and requires a collective effort. We must keep motivating ourselves and try our bests to win matches together.”
Shillong Lajong FC player Redeem Tlang also looks forward to the match, “We will try our best to win.”