SHILLONG: After two inspiring draws at home against big teams Churchill Brothers and Dempo, Rangdajied United FC will take on Mohammedan Sporting in an I-League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, at 3:30pm on Sunday.
The two teams qualified for this season’s I-League by coming through the Second Division, with the Shillong club pipping Mohammedan in the final of that event earlier this year.
While RUFC are in 12th place in the points table, Mohammedan are last having lost all three of their contests so far.
Neither side have won a match this season, so Sunday’s game will present them with massive opportunities.
For the visiting team, a win will take them to three points and up in the table.
Rangdajied have an even bigger opportunity. On two points along with Mohun Bagan and Churchill, a win will take them above these two clubs and also above East Bengal.
In fact, a victory over Mohammedan by a margin of four goals or more will see them tie Shillong Lajong FC on points and overtake them on goal difference.
Their victory over Mohammedan was several months ago, but RUFC coach Santosh Kashyap still thinks that will give his team an advantage.
“Football is a game of advantage and disadvantage,” Kashyap said at a pre-match press conference on Saturday.
“We beat them before, we are also playing at home – these are our advantages.”
However, the coach is not taking the Kolkata club lightly.
“I have great respect for a great club,” he said. “Whoever plays best will win. I’ve seen their game and they are a good team.”
The home team will also be without the services of captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who is out with a knee injury, and Restomwell Khriam, who pulled up with a hamstring problem in the last match.
Kashyap also took time to praise the OM Roy Memorial Higher Secondary School boys who were victorious in the under-17 boys Subroto Cup football final.
“This is great news,” Kashyap said. “They are the future of Meghalaya football and the state will play a big role in Indian football within two-five years.”
Mohammedan will also be without a couple of their players, coach Abdul Aziz Moshood said.
The absence of Luciano Sabrosa and Penn Orji will be a big blow to the visitors.
In contrast to Kashyap, Moshood felt that the Second Division match will not have much of an effect.
“The Second Division is very different,” Moshood said. “Both teams are newly promoted and the season is quite long. Anything can change. Playing more matches has helped us prepare better.”
The Nigerian seemed to suggest that his team would be happy with a draw, saying, “We don’t have a point and we need a point. It’s as crucial as ever.”