SHILLONG: Rangdajied United FC and Shillong Lajong FC will face tough opening games as their respective Federation Cup campaigns kick off in Kerala on Wednesday.
While Rangdajied, playing in their first Fed Cup, will take on defending champions East Bengal in Manjeri, Lajong go up against Salgaocar in Kochi.
The SLFC match will be broadcast live on Ten Action at 4:00pm. None of the Manjeri fixtures will be broadcast, depriving fans back home of watching Rangdajied in action.
The Reds have taken a young squad with them to Kerala, with seven players from the club’s youth academy.
“It will be a tough match after the I-League break and Salgaocar is a very good team. We hope to do well and give our best performance,” coach Thangboi Singto was quoted as saying on the club’s website on Wednesday. “[Salgaocar] have experienced players with a combination of youth also. It will definitely be a highly competitive game.”
Lajong are coming into the tournament after a good first half of the season in the I-League, but the nature of the Federation Cup will not allow for too many mistakes.
Each team will play the three other members of their group, with the top team progressing to the semifinals.
Shillong Lajong have been clubbed together with Salgaocar, Mohun Bagan and Mumbai FC in Group C.
Rangdajied are in Group B with Bengaluru FC, East Bengal and Sporting Clube de Goa.
The Blues have had a successful last few games in the I-League and their Shillong Premier League triumph should give them a measure of confidence, despite being in what has been dubbed the “Group of Death”.
The RUFC squad is as strong as it has been, with one glaring absence – that of goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who finished his stint on loan with the club.
But after a break of a few weeks, both Shillong clubs will have to have their game face on for their respective opening matches.