By Lamphrang Nongspung
SHILLONG: Ar-Hima SC would start favourites against Langsning SC in the third semi-final of the Shillong Premier Leauge (SPL) on Wednesday. Besides their impressive win against Meghalaya Police Football Team (MLFT) in the second semi final on Tuesday, another factor which is in Ar-Hima favour is that they would be able to field full strength squad for the match unlike their opponents Langsning who would also compete in the Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy on Wednesday.
Langsning is scheduled to play Green Valley, Assam in the second semi-final at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday evening.
Hence, they would be forced to make a serious adjustment of fielding a balanced team in both the matches.
The only thing which could work in Langsning’s favour is their performance against Ar-Hima during the current season. Langsning defeated Ar-Hima in the first leg of the SPL and held them to a draw in the second leg.
When contacted, Langsning head coach L Darlong said that the team is confident going into the match.
“The players know they are playing well against Ar-Hima. We would make this work to our advantage,” Darlong said.
He however admitted that they would have some problem in making an adjustment of fielding a balance side in both the SPL and the Bordoloi Trophy.
“We would try to field a good side for both the games. Even though our bench strength for the match in Shillong would not be the strongest, I do not think this would be a major problem,” the Langsning head coach added.
Meanwhile, Ar-Hima assistant coach Khlainpyrkhat Syiemlieh said that the team morale is very high after their victory against MLPFT.
“I hope that the players would continue their good run in tomorrow’s match,” Syiemlieh said.
When asked if there would any impact on the fitness of the players considering they have already played a match in the Bordoloi trophy on Tuesday, he said that only few of the players who played against Royal Wahingdoh in Guwahati are in the team. “We fielded a second string side in Guwahati as our main focus is on the SPL,” he said.
The Ar-Hima assistant coach said that the knock out is a different stage altogether and his team was ready and confident ahead of the Langsning challenge.