I-League Media Team

PUNE: Hardly anything separates Bharat FC and Shillong Lajong FC in this season of the Hero I-League football and as the championship enters the business end both teams were looking towards earning full points when they meet in the Round 18 match at the Balewadi Sports Complex ground here on Sunday.

Debutant Bharat FC has had roller-coaster ride throughout the season having scored just two wins and five draws from the 12 matches played so far. The Lions as they liked to be called have 11 points and are on No 10 position, just about the bottom scrapper Sporting Clube de Goa.

Shillong Lajong have been a revelation off late even as they haven’t played a home match since February last week.

The whole of March and two weeks in April Shillong has been travelling to play away matches—the only aberration was that the North-Easterners played an ‘away’ match against their Shillong derby rivals Royal Wahingdoh last week.

Shillong Lajong have 12 points from as many matches and are one place above Bharat FC at No 9, which means a win on the morrow for either team will see I-League table being shaken at the bottom.

“It will be a good game I know because Shillong is a good side. They have played some good football in the last few rounds so we expect it to be a tough match,” said the Bharat FC coach Stuart Watkiss.

“They have good players in Cornell Glenn of Trinidad and Tobago, Nigerian Penn Orji and Brazilian forward Uilliams. I watched their game against Royal Wahingdoh,” said Watkiss adding that it was high time the team won full points from a match.

Bharat FC had a disappointing run in the last five matches, drawing three and losing back-to-back two matches against Kolkata giants East Bengal at home and Mohun Bagan away.

“I know we were up against stronger teams, but we created a lot of chances and a draw was very much possible. Now we need a result and maximum points to get going,” said the Bharat FC coach.

Bharat FC will be without the services of Lester Fernandes, who is injured. New Zealand striker Kris Bright is fine and doing well, but Watkiss is cautious when he says that the team heavily depends on Bright to deliver.

“There are many gifted players in the team, but I guess we are too reliant on Bright,” Watkiss said.

Without naming his ‘gifted players’ the Bharat FC coach said that central defenders and midfielders need to take chances and contribute towards the team’s goals.

“The players need to take responsibilities and I hope they do on the morrow,” Watkiss said.

Shillong Lajong head coach Thangboi Singto was happy to be back in Pune as weather suits his team well.

“We adjusted in the heat of Goa and Kolkata and in that respect Pune is very good. We had a forgettable match against Pune FC early in the season, but that is a past,” said Singto.

Having scored this season’s heaviest win when Shillong beat Mumbai FC 6-0 at Cooperage on April 3, Singto is confident that his team was capable to winning against any other team.

What gives credence to his confidence is that following the Mumbai win, Shillong held league leaders Mohun Bagan to a goalless draw and then almost beat Royal Wahingdoh on their common home ground, but for the 93rd minute goal that saw Wahingdon equalize the match 1-1.

“Three points on the morrow will be excellent. We have worked for it and it is gettable,” said Singto.

“In spite of the results Bharat FC had we respect the team and will take tomorrow’s match very seriously. It’s not going to be easy I know,” he said.

Shilllong will be without the services of Seminlen Doungel, whowas red carded in the last match following two yellow bookings. Also Joseph Lalfakzuala is injured and the team has travelled here without the two.

Kick-off: 19-04-2015 @7 pm
 

Hashtag: #KBFCvSLFC