Shillong Lajong FC will take on local rivals and I-League debutants Royal Wahingdoh FC in what promises to be a mouth watering Shillong Derby as the two sides square up for their first match this season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on Sunday at 16.30 IST. This will also be the first time the two Shillong sides will face each other in the I-League.

Speaking in a pre-match press conference, SLFC coach Thangboi Singto said, “Every game is important for the team but fans are very important so both Lajong and Royal Wahingdoh will play an attractive brand of football, highly competitive. Royal Wahingdoh will try their best and we will also try our best and hopefully it can become an important fixture in Indian football.”

Royal Wahingdoh coach Santosh Kashyap, who has experienced a Shillong Derby last season with Rangdajied United FC, is coming into the match with a hint of confidence given their Federation Cup campaign but stating that he “can’t say” if his team has the advantage. “I-League is a different ballgame and I hope it will be an attractive and good derby,” he added.

Looking ahead into the new season, Thangboi Singto is hoping that his team does even better than last season’s successful campaign in which Shillong Lajong FC finished 6th in the table. “A new season, new beginning and we have a lot of young players coming in who just recently became Shillong Premier League champions so we are very hopeful and very confident,” Singto told.

Lajong have registered twelve players who have come through the academy ranks and also played in the recently concluded Federation Cup. Thangboi Singto also heaped praises on the performances of the likes of Zodingliana, Rehenesh TP and also Vishal Kaith who was voted Man of the Match for his displays again Mohun Bagan AC in the Federation Cup.

The Reds have also been able to retain the services of foreign players Uilliams Souza, Cornell Glen and Minchol Son besides adding Nigerian central midfielder Penn Orji to the team as well. Singto added that even though “foreigners make a difference” he is not considering their squad roles are secure as yet in the starting line-up as the foreign players just arrived in the squad.

Also present at the press conference, Shillong Lajong captain and Indian international Aiborlang Khongjee said, “I am happy to be back with Shillong Lajong and I hope the boys play well on Sunday and get us the three points.”