SHILLONG: Hoping to ride on their four-match winning streak, Malki SC will take on defending champions Royal Wahingdoh FC in a Shillong Premier League match at the JN Sports Complex, Polo, on Wednesday at 2:45pm.
Both teams have played eight matches thus far, with RWFC a point behind their Wednesday opponents.
The Royals had been on a five-game victory run before MLP provided a shock by beating the champions 1-0 in their last match.
Malki have 17 points to Wahingdoh’s 16; the first round match between the two clubs resulted in a 1-1 draw in the second game of the season.
Wahingdoh were guilty of taking it easy against the police until they conceded the only goal of the game.
They will need to adopt a better mindset when taking on Malki, who have played attractive football this season.
Speaking at an impromptu meeting with reporters after Tuesday’s Langsning-Mawlai SPL fixture, Malki coach Hering Shangpliang said that Timmy Ryngkhlem is doubtful for the match due to injury.
Asked what was the secret to his team’s success, Shangpliang said, “The main reason for Malki playing well is because they are all local players and their spirit is very high.”
Some of the SPL matches this season have been poorly-attended affairs and Shangpliang identified three issues that could be at play.
Besides Shillong having two teams in the I-League, which may be taking attention away from the SPL, and the standard of play, the Malki coach said that the quality of officiating could also be a factor.
“The football-loving public here are willing to watch good football, but sometimes the referees are not consistent, which affects the game,” he said.
Although Malki are now in second place, Shangpliang said it was still too early to say whether they could go all the way.
“Right now we are concentrating on how to reach the top four,” he said.
“When it comes to the final, different situations and strategies apply and a lot will depend on whether the players remain fit.”