By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite the official silence from Shillong Lajong FC on the dismissal of Johnny Menyongar from the ranks, sources have revealed that the Liberian footballer was virtually running the team last season.
Menyongar’s “indisci-pline” was, apparently, the reason for his sacking.
“He (Menyongar) was openly defying the rules and regulations of the team. He was getting out of control,” sources informed. “He would decide which players should be in the team last season,” and he was backed up by then coach Pradhyum Reddy, the sources added.
The midfielder, however, could not have the same level of control with Desmond Bulpin at the helm, who insisted that Menyongar follow the rules just like the other players in the side, which was unacceptable to him. “He felt that he was above the other players,” sources added.
Meanwhile, Bulpin, in an interaction with the media here on Tuesday, said that the team management is not in favour of signing a new player at present to replace Menyongar.
“We would not like to sign a fourth foreigner. We had faced some problems by having four foreign players in the squad.
“It was extremely difficult to take a call as to who should be left out and who should play,” the Scottish coach said.
He said that from his point of view as a coach, he would like to have a foreign player who is older.
“An older foreign player would be able to play a maximum of 60 minutes.
“One must have seen how I have utilised Renedy Singh this season since he cannot play the full 90 minutes,” Bulpin said while also insisting that such players are invaluable.