To face Dempo at 2:30pm today
SHILLONG: The wait for football fans in Meghalaya to see Rangdajied United FC play their first I-League match at home will end on Friday when they face the formidable Goan team Dempo SC at the JN Stadium, Polo, at 2:30pm.
The second team from Shillong to make it into India’s top tier of football have not had the best of starts, losing two away matches, but both coach Santosh Kashyap and captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh expect a good game.
“It will be a great game, I feel,” Kashyap said at a pre-match press conference at the Shillong Press Club on Thursday. “Dempo have a great record but any team can beat any other.”
He sounded a note of caution, however, adding, “We are still in the team-building stage. This is a young team and I’m also new here, but we will try to play our best. It is always tough for away teams to travel and play here, so we hope to take full advantage of that.”
Kashyap added that his charges would be helped if a large group of supporters come out to back the team.
Lyngdoh echoed his coach in describing Dempo as a good side.
“I hope our players can perform up to their capabilities and try to do their best to get the victory,” he added.
Asked whether he had any pre-match jitters about playing his first I-League match at home, Lyngdoh just smiled.
Dempo have not had the best of starts to their campaign either, sensationally losing to Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 at home on September 22 and drawing 1-1 at Mumbai FC a week later.
Nevertheless, experienced midfielder Clifford Miranda said that the morale in the team is not a problem.
“The morale is as high as ever. We’re only two games into the season, which is a marathon, and we can catch up at any time,” he said.
Miranda, who has been at Dempo for over a decade, described playing in Shillong as a great experience. “There is always a big crowd who are very supportive,” he said. “They are very passionate about football.”
Despite being glowing in his tribute to Shillong’s fans, he still hopes to deliver a blow to Rangdajied.
“It would be wrong to say that we’ve travelled here just to play football and leave. No, we have come here to win,” he said.
Dempo assistant coach Mauricio Afonso, standing in for head coach Arthur Papas, admitted that his team have not had a good start to the season.
“We started very badly, losing to Lajong, drawing with Mumbai, but it takes time to get accustomed to the new season,” Afonso said. “I think it’ll be a good match tomorrow and I respect our opponents.”
Although Afonso is expecting a good contest, he added that it is difficult to play in Shillong given the fan support RUFC are likely to receive, which will add to the pressure faced by his boys.
Three Dempo players – Peter Carvalho, Samir Naik, Godwin Franco – are doubtful starters for the match.
As for the home team, Lamine Tamba is the only foreign player that Kashyap said is likely to start, with the others being rested.
