Dempo SC travel to Shillong to face Royal Wahingdoh in the I-League

Royal Wahingdoh Manager Santosh Kashyap

Dempo SC should be in good spirits after securing their first goals and victory in their last I-League fixture, but facing Royal Wahingdoh FC in Shillong on Saturday will be a different experience altogether.

The Goan team, currently in fourth position with five points, did not win either of their fixtures in Shillong last season and they will face a spirited Royal Wahingdoh that want to put last week's 0-4 defeat to Bengaluru FC behind them.

There was no reason to panic and doubt RWFC's fortunes due to that one loss, their coach Santosh Kashyap said after the game, but it was a defeat that the club would have rather done without, seeing as it was Royal Wahingdoh's first-ever home match in the I-League.

Currently on nine points, the home team need to make sure that their defensive line is up to scratch and they will have newly signed Govin Singh in their ranks on Saturday. However, Naoba Singh, the dangerous striker Seityasen Singh and Lallawmazuala are all injured.

The visitors, fresh off the back of a 3-0 win over Sporting Clube de Goa, have an even longer list of injuries, with Jewel Raja and Peter Carvalho just two of the big names that will miss out. Nevertheless, Dempo coach Arthur Papas expects a good fixture, promising that his boys will try their best.

Although the crowd will be firmly behind the hosts, Papas said that playing in front of the large Shillong crowds is a good experience and the Royal Wahingdoh fans will hope to have something to celebrate once the final whistle blows.

(Report & Photo courtesy I-League Media)