Mariners Upbeat Before Lajong Tie At Home

by Avinash Palai January 13, 2017

Kolkata: Only Sony Norde can, and he did. On the eve of Mohun Bagan second Hero I-League tie against Shillong Lajong FC, the star Haitian touched down in the city to hijack all the attention from the club ground to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Hundreds of Bagan faithful braved the time constraint to give a hero’s welcome to their favourite son on his arrival.

“It’s because of the supporters, I decided to stay here for another season,” said a visibly touched Norde.

“They have been waiting for me at this time. How can you neglect their love and passion? It was their love that brought me here at Mohun Bagan,” he added.

Norde will not play any part tomorrow as his green and maroon brigade look to improve on their solitary goal win against Churchill Brothers FC Goa at the Barasat Stadium last Sunday.

“I will talk to him once he joins the training. I don’t want to talk about my team now. We are playing a good team tomorrow and to win the league we know we have won most of the matches. We will try to do that,” coach Sanjoy Sen told reporters on the eve of the match.
Balwant Singh made a rousing comeback after a lengthy injury layoff with the winner in the last game.

While U-22 full-back Subhashish Bose’s red card was a setback, Sen would also like his team to be more clinical in front of goal.

Duffy, who missed a gilt-edged chance in the last game, is ready to start but by the look of things in practice AIFF player of the year, Jeje Lalpekhlua might be handed his first start alongside Balwant. Sourav Das could be the U-22 selection but it remains to be seen whether Yusa Katsumi will be drafted then.

Coming to the visitors, Thangboi Singto’s young Turks have been dealt a tough set of fixtures to start with. If Bengaluru FC dished out a professional performance against them in the first match at the Kanteerava Stadium, Bagan could be anything but a tie to bank upon.

“It is always difficult to play against Mohun Bagan. They are a top side with quality players. Without Sony Norde also, they are a tough opponent,” Singto said.

“We are a young side with an aim of improving on our performance from last season. We have no injury concerns and would look to step up against a top side. It should motivate the players even more,” added the coach.

Lajong played with eight U-22 players in the first game and ended with nine.

“Our aim is to better on our last season’s performance,” Singto said.

-I-League Media