I-League: Shillong Lajong host Rangdajied United in local derby

SHILLONG: For the people of Shillong, Friday evening’s Airtel I-League match between Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC is likely to be the biggest match in the city for a long time.

If the comparison was taken towards the hyperbolic, one could say that it will be a battle with David (Rangdajied) and Goliath (Lajong). It will also be a contest between the Reds (SLFC) and the Blues (RUFC).

Both teams are taking the first ever Shillong derby very seriously as they have so much to play for.

Lajong are the hosts for this encounter and they will be under quite a bit of pressure given that the Reds are the stronger, more experienced team, who also have a bigger backing in the hill station.

Rangdajied, on the other hand, are the underdogs. It is their first season of the I-League and they are yet to register a win, although they have drawn three games at the JN Stadium.

Thangboi Singto, coach of Shillong Lajong, said that he feels the importance of the game.

“It is a very prestigious match, not just for the players, but for the management and all concerned,” he said on Wednesday.

Apart from two suspensions – vice-captain Wailadmi Passah and Jibon Singh (the latter earned a red card in the last fixture against Mohun Bagan) – the other players are fit and raring to go, Singto said.

The big news for Rangdajied in the last few days is the roping in of five new players, who have been taken on loan from IMG – Reliance, including India internationals Gouramangi Singh and Subrata Paul.

They have been training with RUFC for the last few days and a further boost to the Club could come from the possible return of captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who played in Rangdajied’s last local league game in the midweek.

Lyngdoh has missed the last few I-League games because of a knee injury.

The Blues’ coach Santosh Kashyap is pleased with the new signings and said he is looking forward to the contest.

Although they are still chasing their first victory of the season, Singto warned against any complacency against one of the newest teams in the League.

He did not want to go into their new signings too much, saying that it was more important for him to focus on his own team.

Shillong Lajong5th in the table with 13 pointsScored 12 goals (Highest Scorer – Cornell Glen – 6 goals)Last Five meetings in I League – DWDWD

Rangdajied United13th in the table with 3 pointsScored 5 goals (Highest Scorer – David KC – 2 goals)Last Five meetings in I League – DLLLD

NB – W-Win,D-Draw,L-Loss.

The teams have never met in I League before.

The kickoff is at 6 PM at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. There will be pre and post match shows on Ten Action from 5:30 PM onwards.