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Shillong, Aug. 31: The stage is all set for the final of the North East Lajong Super Series where Shillong Lajong FC and Wellington Phoenix will clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Polo ground, here tomorrow afternoon.
Wellington Phoenix appears to have the advantage as it had defeated Lajong by 5-2 goals in Imphal on August 26.
Lajong yesterday defeated United Sikkim FC by 3-0 goals to book a place in tomorrow’s summit clash.
“All our players are fit, and we expect a good competitive game tomorrow,” Ricki Herbert, Wellington Phoenix coach, said at a pre-match news conference here today.
Commenting about the experience in the Northeast, Herbert said, “The experience has been very good in a place where it was climatically and culturally different, although it was a little hard for the players to get used to the conditions.”
On forging a long-term relationship with the region, he said opportunities of granting scholarships to a few talented players from here could always be explored in the future.
Lajong coach Desmond Bulpin said the rest period for his players was not good enough, but expressed confidence that his boys would put up a good show tomorrow.
“Tomorrow’s match will be tough and getting just a day’s rest will make it even tougher,” he said.
Bulpin said Lajong captain John D. Menyongar could be fit for the final clash, while P. Renedy Singh was uncertain with a lingering injury.
About Sushil Singh, he said the player was frustrated, being unable to score goals. “However, I have told him to keep working hard and the goals will come,” Bulpin added.
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