Lajong to hire striker

Shillong, Jan. 2:  Shillong Lajong FC will hire a striker when the second window of the inter-club transfer opens in the middle of this month. The club, however, remained tightlipped about their choice of player.

Lajong have fared rather poorly in the I-League, losing by a huge three goal margin even to the bottom placed ONGC. The performance of the club has gone down after Johnny Mayngor was shown the door by the club management on disciplinary ground.

Talking to this reporter here on Wednesday, club secretary Larsing M said: “We will be getting a striker once the second window of transfer opens”. Asked who they have in mind, he refused to divulge the name of the player the club is negotiating with. However, according to sources in club, the plan is to fill up the foreigner quota.

Larsing M, who is also a vice-president of AIFF, denied reports about the Lajong club Desmond Bulpin being replaced by Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencharifa. “There is no such move. The club is not in a position to hire Karim who charges Rs 15 lakh as monthly salary,” he said.

Lajong will also have to strengthen their defense during the break if they hope to progress further in the I-League. The goals that they have been conceding are due mostly to the lack of \coordination in the defense. (By Our Reporter)