I-League 2017: Team Tracker- Shillong Lajong - New approach on being result-oriented

CURERNTLY, THE ONLY I-LEAGUE CLUB FROM MEGHALAYA is in it’s seventh consecutive season at the top flight division. 
In their stay in the I-League their best finish has been a fifth placed position. Considering a major a focus of the club has been to churn out the best of talents from the area and provide them a pathway to professional football, Shillong Lajong FC have done very well. A lot of youth have represented well-known and bigger clubs and teams that would have never been possible in the absence of a well-structured development path laid by Lajong. Some have even gone on to represent the country at various age groups.

Also read: Lajong's 'serial announcement' about all six foreign players

Last season, like the previous others, many of their senior team players were loaned, transferred or moved out of the club. Compared to last season, Lajong have a different approach to the I-League. Last year, the team had a core group of talented Indian youth who were supported well by a few key foreigners. The driving force was the Indians in the team and the foreigners made up for the smaller patches to complete the team as a whole.
It is not the same this season. The core has slightly shifted to the include foreigners. That is one of the reasons that Lajong have used up all the six foreigner slots this season, unlike last season. Let’s take a look at the composition of Shillong Lajong’s quad for 2017-18.

Retained players Allen Deory, Redeem Tlang, Samuel, Lalrammuana, Hardy Nongbri are the ones who have seen the top flight and are expected to handle the higher pressure this season.

Department wise, Nidin Lal is one of the more experienced Indian players in the camp and plays in the goal. He has played for Mumbai FC for four seasons. Neithovilie Chalieu and Phurba Tempa Lachenpa are the other teenage keepers but with lesser experience.

Allen Lyngdoh is one of the three Lyngdohs in the team. Allen, a defender has previously only made it till the bench in the I-League last season. Laurence Doe, the defender of Equatorial Guinea is one of the acquisitions in the team. Doe was last seen playing in Saudi Arabia Pro League for Al Raed. He has represented his national team on many occasions. South Korean Oh Joo-Ho will join Doe in the defence. Rakesh Pradhan and Kynsailang Khongsit make up the remainder of the defence. Kynsailang is just 16.

In the midfield, Lajong Coach Nongbet will have plenty to choose from. Out of the eight Indians in the mids, five of them are just 17 years of age. Lalrammuana will expect to give his best having been with the team since three seasons in the I-League. Allen Deory who was recently called up for the senior national camp will certainly have more responsibility from last season. He can play wide and even be utilised for more attacking roles. Nigerian player Daniel Odafin, brings with him a ton of experience. In the Lebanese Premier League, Odafin is been a regular pick for every game for Shabab Al Sahel and Al-Nabi Shayth. He will certainly the armour for Shillong in the midfield.

On the attacking front, Yemen national Aiman Al Hagri, will be hopeful to get the goals for the team. A partnership is expected to form between Al Hagri, Saihou Jagne and Abdoulaye Koffi. Jagne, a Swedish-Gambian, has played plenty of games in the Swedish national league since 2008. He has had a stint in Finland as well. Koffi has travelled and played in many countries including Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. He has the knack of scoring goals. Don’t be surprised to see an all-foreign attack to get the maximum off these three experienced players.

Last season, the I-League’s highest scorer was from Shillong Lajong and this season, the highest goal scoring is expected from Lajong if all departments combine well. Certainly have all the right mechanism to do so.

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