Shillong:
On a high after three back-to-back wins, I-League debutant Royal Wahingdoh FC will look to upset defending champions Bengaluru FC in a round 4 I-League match tomorrow at the JN Stadium here.
Having topped the table after taming city rivals Shillong Lajong, Goan side Salgaocar and first timers Bharat FC, Royal Wahingdoh FC will go all out to extend their winning streak against the Federation Cup champions who are yet to register a win this season.
Their star strikers Jakichand, Seityasen and Beekay Bawar will have to do a lot of running to upset the southern former I-League champion while the likes of Densill Theobald and Kim Song Yong have to put in consistent performance to prove they are the better team.
Pleased with the team’s performance so far, a confident RWFC Coach Santosh Kashyap said the morale of his side was very high ahead of the crucial home tie against Bengaluru and his team looks forward to take advantage of the visitors’ mistake.
“It’s a great beginning for a new club ... we are playing very good football at the moment,” Kashyap said adding that it was by no means easy to come back from behind and win games on two occasions.
The Royals had rallied to beat both Shillong Lajong and Bharat FC displaying high persistence and determination to win by their players who just graduated from second division I-League last season.
The coach, however, admitted that any new game is a new challenge in football.
“At this level every team is a strong contender for a new side like us. Both Lajong and Salgaocar were experienced and even Bharat FC had a lot of experienced players in their ranks,” he said adding that Bengaluru, despite their not-so-great-start to the season, have a great set up and are a very competitive side.
Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood, meanwhile, said his side was confident ahead of the tie against table toppers and hosts Wahingdoh tomorrow.
“Despite the two losses the morale (of the team) is good. We have just lost two of the last nine games that we played so it’s not disastrous form and there is no reason to be down,” he said.
Westwood was, however, wary of the Royals’ rise and admitted that it would be a tough game for the visitors tomorrow considering the cold climatic condition and the higher altitude.
Recently signed defenders Naoba Singh and Govin Singh would not feature for RWFC in tomorrow’s tie as they are yet to be registered officially with the club.
