Rain forces Aizawl to cancel practice session, Lajong raring to make a comeback in NE Derby

THE AIZAWL FC TEAM missed practice session yesterday due to heavy rainfall, which means they will go into today's North-East Derby match against Shillong Lajong relatively under-prepared.

It had started raining in Shillong earlier in the day, and by the time the Aizawl FC squad reached the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium for their practice session starting 3 pm, the turf was drenched enough in water for coach Jahar Das to deem it unsafe for practice, cancel the session and leave even before the team had disembarked from the bus.

But as if in a twist of fate, the rain started clearing up within minutes. It had almost stopped by the time the Shillong Lajong team showed up to have their own practice session scheduled to start at 4 pm. 

The turf still had a lot of water in it and it was splashing water as the players took to the pitch for warm-ups. But within 10 minutes even that cleared out thanks to the drainage system that was recently upgraded.

The turf was wet and heavy as the practice session went on, but it was definitely playable. 

Jahar Das's seeming eagerness to avoid the rainy conditions look set to be tested tonight, as it rained in fits and starts throughout the night, and it has rained stedily since morning well into afternoon. There's a good chance it will rain in the evening as well; perhaps even during the game.

Apart from the weather conditions, home team Shillong Lajong are also boosted by the fact that they will finally have a full squad after a long struggle with nagging injuries. Coach Thangboi Singto told the media that all 4 foreigners will be available for selection for the North-East Derby. 

Even Aiborlang Khongjee, who is back from national duty, is expected to play some kind of a role during the match.

A Friday evening game, the Derby is expected to see a massive turnout if weather permits. A few hundred supporters are also travelling from Mizoram to witness this battle, that is being billed as the deciding encounter in the Lajong-Aizawl rivalry this season, since the previous leg ended in a 0-0 draw.

Both coaches said that this was going to be a hard-fought game. And despite the apparent disadvantage before going into the game, Aizawl FC will have much-needed momentum on their side. The newly promoted side recently beat league leaders Mohun Bagan, while their opponents have been winless since January.