Margao: Set to play their second match at home, Dempo FC would look to notch up their second win when they take on Shillong Lajong in the sixth round of the Hero I-League at Nehru Stadium here today.
Playing with only two foreigners and missing influential domestic players due to injury, Dempo FC have won just one and drawn four of their five matches they have played to remain on seventh place with seven points.
Shillong Lajong, on the other hand, have won one and lost four to remain on ninth place with three points.
Dempo coach Arthur Papas is optimistic that his team will do well to win their second match at home.
“Now that our opponents have all the four foreigners available, I don’t want to underestimate them. It will be a tough match tomorrow (Saturday) but it’s an important match for us if we want to make progress. Playing with two foreigners and missing influential domestic players is going to be a challenging for us. Both teams have good young players and it is a good opportunities for them to show their talent,” stated Papas.
“It’s disappointing that this is our second home match and we have not been given the opportunity to practice at the Fatorda stadium. They have three good players and young Saminlen Doungel is a very talented player. Now that Minchol Son, the DPR Korean centre-back is available, their defence will be more solid and it is going to be tough challenge to beat them. Our team has dominated most of the matches but have not scored. I hope we score when opportunities come,” he said.
Lajong coach Thangboi Singto said it’s going to be a difficult task for them.
“Dempo are ahead of us and we are struggling, losing four out of five matches. The reason is that the foreigners arrived late but now that they all are here we have our jobs cut out for tomorrow’s (Saturday) match,” he said. (PTI)
