By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Home favourites Shillong Lajong will take on United Sikkim in the final league match of the North East Lajong Super Series at JN Stadium on Thursday at 3 pm. The winner of this match will take on Wellington Phoenix in the final on Saturday.
Lajong coach Desmond Bulpin asserted that his players have just started their preparation for the upcoming season and termed this tournament a “good thing”.
While insisting that the I-League is the team’s priority, he said, at a press conference, that he will try to field in the best team for the Sikkim match.
“I am aware that the football fans would want the team to win every match, but…it is impossible for the team to emerge victorious in every match especially when we are still in the pre-season,” Bulpin said.
His counterpart, United Sikkim’s coach Philippe de Ridder, echoed him.
‘‘Our main goal is the I-League. We would not be utilising all my resources for the pre-season tournament. But I hope the players who would be playing in tomorrow’s match give their best shot,” Ridder said.
De Ridder has been given full freedom to choose the players he wants, according to former Indian captain and United Sikkim co-owner Baichung Bhutia.
“We wanted to adopt the policy which is adopted by prominent football clubs in Europe,” Bhutia said.
When asked about his role in the team, he said that his role is still as a player, but added that he was yet to achieve full match fitness. Bhutia, however, did confirm that he will be playing in the match.
“It is an honour to be playing against a good team like Shillong Lajong,” he added.
