Chennai City FC is expected to easily get past Shillong Lajong FC, which is languishing at the bottom of the table, in the Hero I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.
After playing brilliantly for most part this season, Chennai City shockingly crashed to its first defeat at home against Real Kashmir last week.
Of course, a ‘dubious’ decision by the referee cost the team dear. It has hurt the team so much that its coach Akbar Nawas refused to talk in length about the impending match.
“I don’t want to talk about the game but we will play as how we have been doing all along whether there is a referee on the field or not. I hope the referees will be fair to us.
“We are not asking them to favour us. Be fair in your decisions and protect the players who want to play football.
“ That’s all I am asking them to do,” he said.
He urged the referees to also not get personal.
“Don’t get personal for anybody because football is an emotional game and the referees must learn to control it. What will happen to football in India if we don’t protect the players.”
Tough task
Shillong Lajong’s coach Alison Kharsyntiew said it’s going to be a tough task to beat a team like Chennai City.
“It’s a very good side and has played some great football.
“It’s going to be very difficult for us to defeat them.”
But he has motivated his young players to go out there and give it a fight.
“They have made mistakes on the field, particularly in defence, but it doesn’t matter. I only want them to learn from it.
“I hope they defend well and dish out a good performance,” he added.
