By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With a day to go for the I-League, Shillong Lajong FC on Thursday signed North Korean defender Minchol Son while youngster Samuel Shadap became the first player from Lajong’s youth academy to secure a contract with the senior team.
Announcing this at a press conference here, SLFC general secretary Larsing Ming Sawyan said that the team would definitely gain from the new signings in the months to come.
Son, who has been roped in to strengthen the defense, which is in a spot of bother after defenders Govin Singh, Rollingson Hungyo and Chitrasen were rendered injured recently, has previously played for FC Korea d also a part of the Korean National Football Team U-23 squad. 20-year-old Shadap on the other hand has been rewarded for his impressive performance in the North Esat Lajong Super Series and handed over a four year contract by the Club.
Shadap joined SLFC Academy at the age of 14 in 2006 and has since then been among the most promising players of the Academy.
The Reds take on Mohun Bagan on Saturday in their first encounter of the I-League this season. The match will be crucial in terms of gaining momentum going into the long season.
Stating that the team is targeting a top seven finish this year, Sawyan asserted that “win or lose, the boys would not give up until the final whistle (of the match) is blown.”
Calling on the supporters of the club to come forward and back the side, both the general secretary and the coach Desmond Bulpin informed that an email address Comments@shillonglajong .com has been opened for fans to give their suggestions to take the club forward.
Playing down the pressure of expectations in the opening encounter, Ming said, “What matters is how we end the season”, while adding that it would be great to start on a winning note against Bagan.
Lajong, placed 10th in the last season’s table, are eyeing to finish at the first half of the table this year even as Bagan are a force to reckon with considering that they ended in the fourth position last season.