Hosts ‘most likely’ to miss services of Glen, Matsugae against Md Sporting
SHILLONG: Playing at home this season has offered Shillong Lajong FC little advantage and they will face an uphill task when taking on Mohammedan Sporting in an eighth round I-League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Saturday at 4:30pm.
Five matches on home turf have yielded just three points (three draws, two losses) and Lajong coach Thangboi Singto will have a serious challenge as two of his key players will be missing from action.
Cornell Glen, who skipped the last match against Churchill Brothers due to a thigh injury, will be a major doubt for Saturday’s fixture. Japanese player Taisuke Matsugae will also be unlikely to feature; a problem with his back is the issue, it was revealed.
Nevertheless, Singto put on a brave face while addressing the media at a pre-match press conference on Friday.
“For a team to lose key players is always difficult,” Singto said, “but in team sports you have to do your best with the players you have. That is the plan for us. I’m happy that Glen and Taisuke are improving. For tomorrow’s game they’re highly doubtful, but I believe in the other players we have. Uilliams (Souza Silva) scored one goal in the previous match, which should give him a lot of confidence.”
In contrast to the hosts, there are more players available to Mohammedan coach Abdul Aziz Moshood. The historic Kolkata club lost their first three matches, before recording two wins and a draw in their next three, including a 3-0 win over Rangdajied United FC in Shillong two weeks ago.
“We started the season with a lot of losses, due to circumstances beyond our control. We lost at least three of our players due to injury after the Durand Cup. As our players came back, gradually, we have been getting better and better,” Moshood said.
While the Reds are currently in sixth place in the standings with nine points, the Kolkatans have seven points and are in eighth spot.
Despite the injury worries, Thangboi said it was not in his mind to go into a game just hoping for a draw.
“As a team we try to win. We don’t go to the field thinking about a draw. That mindset won’t change. We do respect Mohammedan Sporting but on the field it is 11 against 11 and hopefully the best team on the day wins,” he said.
“The league is quite open at the moment. Mohammedan have come back strongly after their injuries and they have some of the better foreigners in Indian football currently in Josimar and Tolgay Ozbey.
“We have to keep working hard, keep on improving, especially in our defending and the players know that. Hopefully tomorrow will be a good game of football,” Singto concluded.
Also at the press conference was SLFC skipper and defender Minchol Son, who expressed determination to win the match.
“It will be very interesting game tomorrow. Mohammedan are a very good team. But we must win tomorrow because we still (have yet to win a) home game,” Minchol said.