SHILLONG: Ending the season in fourth position would be a good result for Shillong Lajong, but star striker Aser Dipanda Dicka wants to push for more as the 2016-17 season of the I-League draws to a close.
With just five matches left, Lajong have 20 points in their kitty from 13 outings and are in fourth place. Some of the toughest fixtures are yet to come for the Reds with Lajong first playing away at DSK Shivajians on April 8 before hosting Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC and league leaders Aizawl FC.
Speaking before the team left for Pune, Dicka, who has scored nine of Lajong’s 18 goals this season and is the tournament’s lead scorer, said, “The matches we have played have not been easy. We have worked very hard for what we have earned so far. I think the remaining games will be tougher and our only wish is to win them all. We need to end the season on a good note and position.”
Before coming to India, the Cameroonian played much of his professional football in Spain. He joined Shivajians for the 2015-16 season and was the club’s top scorer that year with seven goals, a feat he has already surpassed at Lajong, though his opening few matches with the Reds were far from plain sailing.
“I was not fully fit in the first three matches. I finally got my scoring rhythm in the games we played at home and then I started to score in almost every match,” he explained.
“There are five matches left and I want to score as many goals possible and for that I am going to give my best. It’s not just about being the top scorer. What matters the most is we finish the league in a good position,” he added.
The 28-year-old’s bubbly personality, positive energy and never-say-die attitude quickly made him a favourite among the Lajong faithful, who have clamoured to see more of that Dicka magic that has earned the footballer four man-of-the-match awards with the Reds so far.
Despite that personal success, he is the first to admit that it would not have been possible on his own.
“Credit has to go to my team mates and the fans. They have given me a lot of motivation to do better,” Dicka said.
Looking ahead, Dicka knows that the encounter with his former club this Saturday is going to be no walk in the park. Lajong have not beaten Shivajians in three I-League encounters and last lost 2-1 at home in February.
“We will have to fight hard until the final whistle. Our target is to collect three points from this game and come back home ready to face two big opponents in Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru,” Dicka signed off.
