Lajong boys are ready to face Bagan

After their convincing victory over Air India, the Lajong FC boys are ready to take on Mohun Bagan.

On the eve of the match between Shilong Lajong FC and Mohun Bagan, IndianFootball.com talked to Stanley Rozario, coach, Shilong Lajong FC.

Stanley touch based on the following points:

Confidence factor in this match

• Our boys had a big win at home against Air India and we are ready to face Bagan.
• But all said Mohun bagan is after all Mohun bagan!
• Even though they are not getting the service of Barretto, yet they are a formidable side with competent bench strength.
• Also, their recent win at the Kolkata derby has boosted their morale.

High altitude home advantage

• I do not agree on the high-altitude thing, a match is a match, and the professional players have to perform.
• Bagan consists of many players from NorthEast. Surkumar Singh, James Singh, Tomba Singh, and Genius Zenith are all experienced in playing in high altitude condition.
• Moreover, the weather here is chilly unlike the any other I-League venues, and the players will be comfortable playing in such soothing condition.

Chief custodian Gumpe Rime’s absence

• Gumpe absense won’t deter much, our other goalies are also good.
• Marus Basutarari is an experience keeper and so is R Lalthuammawia, who has already played against Sporting Club de Goa in the I-League.
• Will take the decision on fielding either of these two keepers tomorrow, just before the match.

Mission to visit Kolkata to see Mohun Bagan’s game (at the derby match against East Bengal on Sunday, October 25

• Was there as a spectator (winks)!
• I always do that, like to take notes on the opposition. Have even done that before the Air India match (East Bengal - Air India match was played at Kolkata).
  
• I’ve shared my observation with the team and accordingly the team has worked on it.
• You can say that the planning part is done it is up to how the players execute in the field. (laughs)

Ecstasy in Shillong!

This is what happens with the fans when a football team from an unknown region gets their first home victory in the I-League Division 1.

The Shillong Lajong FC fans thronged the stadium and the stadium was jam-packed with capacity crowd.

The expectation from the team was high, the team leaved upto it with a thrashing 3-0 margin, and finally the crowd went ecstatic!

Always a great acheivement to garner full points in the first ever I-League Division 1 home match. A special mention goes to the Lajong players for displaying their character, mental strength, and attitude against the Airmen.

Also, Lajong so far has managed to win an away match. These matches are very difficult for any newly promted team and they are no exception to this, still they managed to win a match. Great show!

Applaudable is coach Stanley Rosario’s approach towards I-League, “Too dificult to predict in a marathon league like this. Forget saving relegation, aiming for a spot, et al., I would like to concentrate one match at a time. Aim for full 3 points at the home matches and 1 point in the away matches, anything more is bonus to me.

Also, commendable is the fact that the except for Gumpe Rime, Daniel Bedemi, and Aibor Khongjee, all the other players in the team are new to this format. They do not have any idea about I-League, yet they responded positively, and improving day by.

Veteran keeper, Gumpe Rime feels that the Lajong crowd by far is the most impressive home team crowd he has ever experienced in the I-League.

Gumpe remembered that once he told to IndianFootball.Com about the joining Lajong FC and be a part of the history. How does he feel now to be a part of the history?

Gumpe says, “I’m very happy, let’s not be content with this, and hope to continue with the same spirit.”

Unfortunately for Lajong, Gumpe will be sitting out in the next match due to a suspension over 2 yellow cards.

With a performance like this, Shillong Lajong FC can expect nothing but crowds support!

So far so good for Lajong: Gumpe

Shillong Lajong FC's captain Gumpe Rime sees the positive side of the performance of his team after their first three matches in the I-League's top Division.

“Three points from three away matches, that too for a team that is newly promoted into the I-League Division 1, this is a decent start!”, recons the veteran custodian of Shillong Lajong FC, Gumpe Rime.

The team was returning to Shillong after playing their away matches in Goa, while IndianFootball.Com caught up on Gumpe at the Mumbai Airport.

All said but Gumpe is very much concerned about the two big losses, 5-1 against JCT and 4-1 Dempo. “We do not have any big-bodied overseas player playing in the defence and need to work on that area.”

“I am sure our coach Stanley has made plans to fix it once we get started with practice after reaching Shillong”, says Gumpe.

Lajong will play their next match against Air India in Sunday, October 18. “It’s good that we will be playing our next three matches are home, we must utilise the home advantage.”

Air-India has always been a tough nut to crack. Though playing in the high altitude is a challenge for any visiting team, but Gumpe feels that it would not be that difficult for the Airmen. Bimal Ghosh’s team boasts of numerous Northeastern players who are well acclimatized playing in such conditions.

An interesting match would surely be on the cards and one would welcome Shillong as the latest I-League venue!

Lajong Football Club starts their pre-season camp

New entrant to the I-League Division 1 Lajong Football Club (FC) has started their pre-season camp from today. Based in Shillong, this is the first club from North-east India who will be playing in the I-League Division 1.

Former national assistant coach, Stanley Rozario is the Lajong FC coach. The team practiced today at a picturesque practice pitch, which is located at the outskirts of the city.


Lajong FC has a good mix of local and out-stationed players. Coming to the big-stage for the first time, this team is eager to prove their worth.

Tete-a-tete with Gumpe Rime

North-east of India has been a happy hunting ground for the national club recruiters. All the top national clubs have players from this region on their roster. However, you will barely find a player from Arunachal Pradesh. One such rare player who hails from Arunachal Pradesh is custodian Gumpe Rime, playing for the top clubs for almost one and half decade.

After playing for Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) six successful seasons, Gumpe is all set to keep the goal of the newly promoted first division I-league team, Shillong Lajong FC.

Q: Hi Gumpe, tell me what prompted to take you this decision?
A: I wanted to play for a first division club and Shillong Lajong FC is the first North-east club who will be playing in the I-league first division. I hail from North-east part of India, it will be a privilege for me to play for such a club and part of the history. And If my experience can be of any use then nothing like that.

Q: Tell us something about your childhood?
A: I come from a town named Aalo in Arunachal Pradesh. After my schooling, I was spotted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Guwahati, and groomed there for a while. I started playing for clubs since 1995.

Year	Club
1995-96 to 98-99	Mahindra United
1999-00	Bengal-Mubai Football Club (BMFC)
2000-01	Vasco Sports Club
2003-04	Salgaonkar Sports Club
2004-05 to 08-09	HAL
2009-10	Lajong FC

My experience while playing for BMFC has been quite frustrating, it was a mis-managed team where players were not payed regularly.

Some clubs appear all of a sudden and after couple of seasons they literally disappear from the scene; leaving the players in lurch.

I would like to bring to the notice of AIFF that they should check the credibility of these clubs before sanctioning their entity. Clubs like Chandni FC, Malabar FC, and Happy Entertaintment, gets a chance to play in the I-league (second division) and sad to see that HAL being left out.

Q: Goalkeping is a demanding job, how do you keep yourself fit, that too for so many years?
A: That way I have been fortunate enough, I have never got serious injuries while playing. But I do work on my fitness, during off-season I am regular at the training grounds.

Q: How was the experience playing in HAL?
A: Definitely good. After playing for so many years I am regarded as a home player.

However, they need to be more professional in their approach, there are many formalities and protocols to get the budget approved. This becomes frustrating many times.

Team management should stress on retaining talents. Lot of promising players plays for HAL during their formative years and then leaves for better growth. They should look at retaining the best talents.

Also, there is lack of involvement from the management. HAL Sports Club members are high-ranked HAL officials, you would barely find them interacting with the players. Except for sports secretory, Mr. Rajan, I don’t see anyone interacting with the players.

On the contrary, in Salgaoncar the owner himself would take his busy time out to talk and encourage the team.

Q: How is HAL team this year?
A: This current bunch looks good. Management has picked up the core of the Karnataka Santosh Trophy team, including some promising players from BEML. But as I have mentioned before, this is story happens every year, they fail to retain the talents.

Q: And what about your experience playing in Kolkata?
A: I had a short stint with Mohemadan, I’ve never played a full season there. Even during that time they changed coach many times, the management was bad. Players like Odafa and Chidi started their career in India by playing for Mohemadan. Pity that they could not retain them and later they dominated the India football scene.

Once, I had got offer from East Bengal, but I had to reject it for some reason. But yes, the media coverage is amazing, you don’t get it anywhere else in India.

Q: How is football played in North-east?
A: The local bodies in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam functions well. They have proper infrastructure, grass root level, and youth development programmes.

I am not sure about Arunachal Pradesh, the football association does not have enough funds. There is no local league in Arunachal Pradesh. The players should get proper exposure by participating in the tournaments outside Arunachal Pradesh.

This year the Arunachal Pradesh team participated in the under-21 nationals at Goa and the result was decent. Football should be played throughout the year. We have now two young players from Arunachal Pradesh, Nyamar Loyi and Tassar Techi playing for clubs. Hope they play well and make Arunachal Pradesh proud.

At times discipline becomes as issue among the North-east players. Reaching to a height is not difficult, maintaining is difficult.

We have Baichung Bhutia as our icon, but after that there is a void, there is no one even close to him.

Q: Any disappointment of not making to the national team?
A: I have played for India juniors. However, I was never selected for the senior team. I have attended national camps several times, but failed to make to the final squad. Mainly because our coaches preferred tall keepers.

Q: Who is your favorite goalkeeper?
A: I have always found Jorge Campos, the famous Mexican goalkeeper exciting. Not because of his flashy outfits, but for his agility. He did not have the height, but the kind of saves he made was amazing.

In India, I have seen Ghanaian international Edward Ansah’s keeping. He was playing in India when he was in his 40’s. Even at that age, he was one of the best keepers to have graced Indian football. Currently, Edward Ansah is the goal-keeping coach for Ghana.

Q: How long you want to continue playing football?
A: Another 3 years at the top level. (grins)

Q: Any post-retirement plans?
A: I have not made any plans yet. Definitely something related to football, maybe an instructor. I will leave it to my destiny. (smiles)

Q: Thanks Gumpe for your time and best wishes for your new venture.
A: Thanks and all the best to Indianfootball.com, keep up the good work!