I-League 2018-19: Indian Arrows takes on Shillong Lajong at new ‘home’

Cuttack’s iconic Barabati stadium will host its first ever Hero I-League game with the All India Football Federation’s development side Indian Arrows opting for the Odhisa venue this season as its home venue.

Shillong Lajong has put on much better performance compared to its Monday host in the two games that it has played in so far.

Young guns from Indian Arrows will be aiming to make a course correction after its opening round loss to Chennai City, when it takes on Shillong Lajong in an I-League encounter at the iconic Barabati Stadium, here, on Monday.

Cuttack’s iconic Barabati stadium will host its first ever Hero I-League game with the All India Football Federation’s development side Indian Arrows opting for the Odhisa venue this season as its home venue.

The Arrows was resoundingly beaten 1-4 by Chennai City FC and coach Floyd Pinto will look to get its campaign back on track against a Shillong side, which also, like them, will be one of the two teams having an all India representation this season.

Shillong Lajong, however, has put on much better performance compared to its Monday host in the two games that it has played in so far.

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It beat Aizawl FC 2-1 in its opener, before going down to Quess East Bengal (QEB) 1-3 at home. That result, however, did not adequately reflect the effort of the young Lajong boys as it dominated possession as well as chances created against the far more experienced visitor.

Coach Pinto will have his task cut out against Shillong as his young side, made up primarily of the boys who represented India at the U-17 FIFA World Cup last year, looked to be out of sorts in their opening game.

Midfielder Rahul K.P. looked the part and captain Amarjit Kiyam scored a calmly finished goal, but the team, especially the defence, needs to get its act together as a whole.

“My boys are working hard and we have seen a lot of positivity in the training sessions. It’s a different challenge to face an all Indian squad. I believe it will be tough and much intense game,” Pinto said.

“Whatever I have seen in I-League till now, Shillong Lajong is the best team with respect to football. We have to be ready to face the challenge,” he added.

There are still good solid talents warming the bench for the Arrows and Pinto will have nothing to lose in giving them a go from the outset.

Forward Abhijit Sarkar, who scored four times for the Arrows last season is yet to get a look in and dynamic left wing-back Boris Singh Thangjam might also get a start.

Deepak Tangri in defence has given a good account of himself previously. Also, players like Sanjeev Stalin and Jeakson Singh were almost invisible on the pitch in the opener and will have to step up their game.

Shillong coach Alison would have no such worries with the team gelling wonderfully well and playing an entertaining free-flowing brand of football, which has been very pleasing to the objective and neutral eye.

Captain Samuel Lalmuanpuia has marshalled his team well from the centre of the midfield and is due to get a goal from a free-kick any day.

Naorem Mahesh Singh has been a revelation in the forward line and his opening goal against Aizawl is still the best of the league so far. Midfielders Buam, Hnamte and Samuel Lyngdoh have also shown a lot of purposes.

Rakesh Pradhan, in the left wing-back position, has also been another find with an assist and a goal to his name already, and players like Aibanbha and Novin Gurung also look like developing into very good defensive prospects for Indian football in the near future.

“It will be a tough game against Indian Arrows, but we are preparing well for it. It will be a challenging one for us, but we have to be ready to win the three points. They have a young squad, so do we, and we also have to be careful and quick throughout the 90 minutes,” Alison said.