SHILLONG: Royal Wahingdoh FC will play hosts to local rivals Shillong Lajong FC in the second and last city derby of the season at the JN Stadium here on Sunday. The match will commence at 4.30 PM.
With the Royals unbeaten since the last five matches and the Reds yet to lose a game since their return to action after an over three-week break, a cracker of a derby is on the cards on Sunday.
The Hero I-League Round 16 match will be crucial for both sides, one of which is nurturing title ambitions while the other is looking to increase distance from the relegation zone.
The Royals, however, were handed a massive blow ahead of the encounter with their star striker Jackichand Singh ruled out of the home tie due to an injury. Lajong, meanwhile, will be without the services of Boithang Haokip.
The Royals who have had an exceptional season so far had beaten the Reds 2-1 in the reverse fixture which also happened to be their debut match and the hosts of Sunday’s tie would certainly look for to repeat the feat in the second leg.
RWFC also come to the match on the back of some brilliant performances against the likes of Pune FC, East Bengal and Bengaluru FC.
However, RWFC coach Santosh Kashyap feels that it would be a completely new game on Sunday when past performances would not count much.
“Last derby was a different game and both the sides have improved from there on,” Kashyap said on the eve of the match adding that a good contest is on the cards on Sunday. The coach also expressed satisfaction at the performance of his boys so far.
“The boys have done extremely well considering the hectic schedule. It was good to be among points in our last five matches,” he said.
Talking of Jacki’s non-availability for the tie, Kashyap said though the team will miss the services of the Manipuri striker, he was confident others will make up for his absence.
Meanwhile, Shillong Lajong too have been among points of late and if their performances against the likes of Mumbai FC and Mohan Bagan is an indication of things to come then the Reds will clearly not give up without a fight on Sunday.
“We had a shaky start but the team has been together for long and the combinations have finally started working for us,” Lajong coach Thangboi Singto said.
He also pointed out that the team has maintained a clean sheet in the last two matches and would try not to concede against the Royals on Sunday.
“We have players in the front who are capable of scoring, so we need to ensure that we don’t concede,” Singto added.
Both the coaches expected a cracker of a contest on Sunday and urged the fans to come in large numbers to support the two local sides.
Cornell Glen will undoubtedly be the man to look out for the Royals while the likes of Bekay Bawar, Kim Yong and Densill Theobald are expected to step on the gas for the hosts on Sunday.
RWFC’s Kim Song Yong said the team is well prepared for the derby and “he can’t wait to take the pitch on Sunday.”
SLFC’s Aiborlang Khnongjee was equally excited about the tie between the two sides.