Opponent watch – Shillong Lajong

by Siddharth Yadav April 16, 2016

Mumbai F.C is set to host Shillong Lajong on Sunday evening at Cooperage Stadium in a crucial I-league match as the league enters its final stage of the season. This is much like a relegation battle between both the sides, the host are lying at the bottom of the table with 13 points whereas the traveling team is two places above its counterparts on 15 points.

Since defeating Bengaluru F.C 2-0 at Cooperage Stadium in January, Khalid Jamil’s men has gone without registering a win in their last 10 I-league matches. Mumbai F.C’s home record has stayed intact though where The Yellow Submarines are yet to lose a game at their fortress.

Ironically, the last team to get the better of Khalid Jamil’s men at Cooperage Stadium was none other than Shillong Lajong itself when they defeated The Yellow Submarines 6-0 last season.

History

Formulated by Shri Kitdor Syiem and P.D. Sawyan, two football fanatics from the city of Shillong in 1982, the aim was always to put Shillong on the map of Indian Football. Together with a group of friends and supporters, they commissioned a semi-professional club aptly called Lajong Football Club literally translating into “Our own” or “of the people”.

However, their dream took its own time to realize and twenty seven years later, Shillong Lajong gained promotion to the I-League. Since then the Shillong outfit have been a main stay in the I-League and has further realized the dreams of their two founders.

Shillong Lajong gained promotion to the I-league for the 2009-10 season but unfortunately finished at the bottom of the table and got relegated in the 2^nd Division of I-league. It took Shillong only one season to get back into the top tier of Indian football when they defeated Mohammedan S.C 1-0 in the 2^nd Division Final round.

Head Coach

Thangboi Singto has been Shillong Lajong’s First Team Head Coach since 2014, when he took over as interim manager of the club, who were at that time fighting for their lives in the I-League with just 15 points from 17 games. Singto quite tactfully steered them to safety and since then has been at the helm of the Shillong based club.

Singto has instilled a great attacking style of play at Shillong, which our fans very well know from their great win over Mumbai FC last season. Shillong Lajong are expected to be out with the same approach this time out as Thangboi Singto believes they are stronger than last time out.

Key Players
Cornell Glenn departure to Mohun Bagan saw Shillong Lajong replacing him with Brazilian center forward Fabio Henrique, who has been terrific this season along with Uilliams as the duo has scored 7 goals combined so far. Midfielder Penn Orji has also proved to be the catalyst for Lajong with 2 goals to his name. In the defense, Aiborlang Khongjee and Zodingiana Ralte who was not only impressive in the Indian Super League but has also continued their fine form in I-league.