During the start of this season, there
was a buzz surrounding the I-league among Indian football enthusiasts
and followers. For the first time since the inception of the Premier
league (National football league or I-League), there were two teams from
the north east plying their trade among the usual suspects from Goa and
Kolkata. Shillong Lajong FC avoided
the drop last season and with a stronger squad was raring to go under
new administration. Adding to the Meghalaya giants, we had Bhaichung
Bhutia’s baby United Sikkim FC making the cut from ONGC I-League 2, though controversially.
Round 14 Table View
A lot was expected from both these sides
as they geared for the big challenge. Both clubs secured the services
some influential players. But the challenge put forth by the north
eastern sides is eventually fading out as the I-League crosses the half
way mark. Let us look at the League positions of both the sides
- Shillong Lajong is placed at twelfth position and United Sikkim is
thirteenth in the league.
Shillong Lajong hasn’t won in their last
five games. Losing three and drawing the other two. Desmond Bulpin’s
side are struggling big time. Apart from the big North Korean defender
Minchol Son, their defence is shambolic. Lajong’s defence has let in
twelve goals in their last four games, Churchill Brothers hitting the
net half a dozen times in the last round, without receiving a reply from
the Meghalaya side. Former India International Rennedy Singh has lost
his sheen in the middle of the park and has failed to make a mark.
Striker trio of Sushil Singh, Friday and Ebi Sukore have failed to
impress the fans and are guilty of muffing easy chances falling in their
way. Bulpin’s side has only managed to win two of their seven home
games this season, which is one of the prime reasons why Shillong’s
season is derailing.
United Sikkim FC, aka The Snow Lions are
hovering in the relegation zone as the Round 14 concludes. The Gangtok
side has been utterly disappointing from the start of the season, so
much so that the team has only managed to hoard a single triumph in
their thirteen games. Anwar Ali led defence has been listless at the
back for the Bhutia side as they continue to leak in goals. Inexperience
of Sandesh Jhingan and Munmun Lagun is showing at the back, especially
when up against quality sides. United Sikkim hasn’t won since the
opening day triumph against Salgaocar. Striking department is facing a
drought with Nigerian striker Nuruddin usually not getting the required
support from Tenzin and Tudu.
A common problem that has plagued sides
from North East is their woeful away form. They do well at home thanks
to the dual factor of a passionate home support as well as altitude
factor but the obvious gaps in technique of the players becomes all too
apparent on their travels. Both Lajong and United Sikkim contain players
who have excellent fitness and pace but they don’t have enough players
with creativity or game changing ability. The selection of foreigners
also leaves a lot to be desired. This season, Baichung Bhutia had given
bulk of the responsibility of constructing the team to De Ridder, United
Sikkim’s ex-coach. But the Belgian has clearly failed in his task which
was evident when he was removed from coaching seat in middle of the
season. Lajong and United Sikkim’s form is a sharp contrast to the
recent upswing of ONGC and Mumbai FC, two teams which were expected to
struggle this season and unless the North Eastern sides improve their
level of play one or both of them can drop back to division two.
I-League Matches:
Chidi Edeh continued with his excellent
run of form for the Lal-Holud brigade as he scored his first hattrick at
Mapusa on Saturday. East Bengal demolished Salgaocar in their own
background, with Robin Singh also getting a rare goal for the Kolkata
side. East Bengal now sit third in the table, one point behind the joint
table leaders Churchill Brothers and Pune FC. Meanwhile Salgaocar,
could not live up to the expectations of the large crowd at Duler
Stadium and slipped to eleventh in the league once again. This was after
a confidence boosting win in the previous round for the Goan Greens.
Round 14 Team of the Week
Another afternoon kickoff at the Ambedkar
Stadium saw ONGC lock horns against deflated Pailan Arrows. ONGC came
up with trumps in another home match as the Delhi side rallied to clinch
all three comfortable points with a clean sheet. Eric Brown was given
marching orders for a two footed lunge, but the Liberian had already
done the damage. ONGC now climb further up the table at eighth in the
league with Arrows registering their fourth consecutive loss. Coach
Arthur Papas looked very disappointed with his team’s performance at
Ambedkar stadium and would be hoping that boys hit the lost form
quickly.
The match of the round saw Dempo travel
to Kolkata at a jam packed Kalyani Stadium, a rarity for Prayag United
matches. The match saw both the sides have moments to score, but somehow
Carlos Hernandez proved his worth when the Costa Rican Midfielder
swirled a free kick hitting the side netting in the dying moments of the
match to clinch all three points. Eelco’s side were desperate for
points in this match and now coach would be hoping that is teams
tightens the screws. Dempo slip to fourth in the table as the title race
heats up between four teams. This is Colaco’s teams’ second loss in
five games.
The evening kick off at Balewadi saw Air
India host Sporting Club. The Pilots were in command for most of the
match and were also leading courtesy an Elijah Junior strike before the
lemon break. But the Mumbai side let two points slip from their hands as
Victorino Fernandes came off the bench to make them pay late in the
injury time. It finished 1-1 after his thundering shot beat the Air
India custodian. Air India is now placed at ninth in the table, while
Sporting Goa hovering just above the relegation zone.