I-League: Struggling Churchill Brothers takes on Shillong Lajong

Churchill Brothers will be looking for its first win at home and help lift itself from the relegation zone.

Much responsibility will be on the shoulders of Kalu Ogba (centre), who scored twice against Gokulam Kerala FC.

Back to winning ways, Churchill Brothers will be looking for its first win at home when it takes on Shillong Lajong in the I-league match at Tilak Stadium here on Friday. After a disastrous start in the I-League campaign where it lost five matches, Churchill Brothers started the new year with a ray of hope as it roped in new faces. The move paid off.

Ivory Coast striker Mechac Koffi helped the team equalise against East Bengal to grab its first point and later, it defeated Gokulam Kerala to secure its first win and move to the ninth place with four points after lying at the bottom.

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Churchill Brothers assistant coach Alfred Fernandes is pleased with the way his boys played against Gokulam. “Now that we have tasted our first victory, our boys are confident and are looking forward to keep the winning momentum going,” Fernandes said.

‘Motivated’

“We have signed three more foreign players. Our team is looking more stronger and is motivated to do better and keep on winning from now on, especially home matches, [to] pull ourselves out of relegation, which is our top priority. Except for Jovel Martins all other players are fit and are all set to take on Lajong,” said Fernandes.

Kalu Ogba, who scored two goals in its win against Gokulam, will be the man to lead the attack from the middle, while Mechac Koffi will also a vital cog for the team.

Shillong Lajong, coming into this match with a defeat at the hands of Minerva Punjab, is lying fourth with 14 points from 10 matches. Churchill Brothers looks a different side after signing new foreign recruits and it is always difficult to beat at home, but coach Bobby Nongbet believes that it just needs to play well and everything will fall into place.

The Meghalaya outfit will be banking on the midfield duo of Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Hardy Nongbri to ensure supply for his forward line. “Aiman Al-Hagri has also been impressive going forward for Lajong. It’s going to be an interesting contest, whoever gives their best will win tomorrow,” said Nongbri.