By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In what could be a perfect new year gift for football lovers of the state, the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex (JNSC) is expected to be ready to host Shillong Lajong’s home match against Churchill Brothers on January 18.
Talking to The Shillong Times, Deputy Chief Minister Incharge of Sports and Youth Affairs, Bindo M Lanong said that the ground will be ready before January 10 as the firm which is entrusted with the laying of the artificial turf has already been given a deadline to complete the task by January 8.
“Work is going on in full swing and it is expected to be completed soon,” Lanong said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Sports and Youth Affairs, DP Wahlang said that the work is going as per schedule and the the turf was laid at the ground on Thursday.
“By next week it (the artificial turf ground) will be handed over to us,” Wahlang said.
The work for laying the artificial turf in the JNSC started late this year, raising doubts over its completion before the commencement of the I-League and the Rs 5.13 crore project has sen many delays since then.
However, assurances from the Deputy Chief Minister and the Commissioner of Sports and Youth Affairs suggest that the ground would definitely be ready to host Churchill Brothers in January.
Earlier, Lajong played its home matches for the I-League in Imphal and Guwahati due to renovation work at the JNSC. Playing on neutral venues, however, did not hamper Lajong’s I-League campaign as the team from Shillong maintained an unbeaten record in the matches played at the so-called home grounds.
Shillong has always been a happy hunting ground for Lajong be it in terms of performance or the huge support which the team gets from the local fans.
Lajong coach Pradyum Reddy said that playing under familiar conditions here would definitely be an advantage to his team.
“With a vocal crowd backing us, things can always get difficult for the opponents, ” Reddy said.
Lajong, who finished the year on a positive note after their 1-0 victory against Chirag United in Guwahati on Thursday stand ninth in the the points table with 16 points in their kitty from 12 matches.