By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC will take on heavyweights Dempo SC in the Round 5 of the I-League 2012-13 season, at the Fatorda Stadium, Goa on Saturday.
After a morale boosting win at home against Prayag United, Shillong Lajong will be playing their first away game against the defending champions of the I-League.
“We have come all the way to Goa to play our first away game and we will try to win it. No doubt it will be a very hard game as Dempo has many Indian internationals in their squad,” Head coach of Shillong Lajong, Desmond Bulpin, said.
“I believe that my boys will fight hard till the last minute and it is important that the boys give total commitment. They will have to put in a lot of effort in order to win against the Goan giants,” Bulpin added.
Dempo, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run against Shillong Lajong.
Dempo are leading the league table with 10 points from four matches and are among the three teams not to have tasted defeat.
Dempo coach Arman Colaco is, however, wary of the threat Shillong Lajong will pose despite the hosts not having lost to the visitors since the start of the competition.
Dempo are unbeaten and it is not a surprise that coach Colaco is pleased as punch with the team’s progress.
“We did well in the second half against East Bengal. I would say we were unlucky not to win that game because we were technically much better. We equalized and should have been awarded a penalty,” explained the Dempo coach.
“It’s a good thing but the players must realize that whatever decision I take, it is in the interest of the team,” Colaco said.
Shillong Lajong’s only loss this season has come against lowly-placed Sporting Clube de Goa, but, as Colaco pointed out, their win against the mighty Prayag United means they have the quality to trouble any opposition. (With inputs from UNI)