Pune FC look to beat Rangdajied today

A positive result for Pune FC will ensure that they move into the top two on the league table. Beating the bottom-placed visitors,winless so far,however may be tricky. Spearheaded by experienced Coach Santosh Kashyap,Rangdajied United FC have a host of ex-Pune FC players in their midst. Their three away defeats is something Pune FC will want to exploit against Rangdajied.

Rangdajied’s coach Santosh Kashyap is quite familiar with the surroundings after having coached Air India FC based out of Pune in the past. He would be hoping to use his experience over the years at Balewadi to help his team adapt. The visitors have retained the services of the majority of the players that helped them win the I-League second division last year. Keeper Surjay Pariyar,defenders Poibang Poshna,Thomas Saikhom,playmakers Bhola Prasad,Abocha Singh and Korean attacker Shin Ho Jun have been retained while defenders Pratik Chaudhari and Munmun Lugun have been brought in,among others.

Both sides have players in their ranks who have played for the opposite team. The Rangdajied trio of Brazilian striker Edmar Figueira,Senegalese defender Lamine Tamba and local Pune lad and target man Sandesh Gadkari will be up against their former side. For Figueira,it will be the first time since leaving India in 2010-11 that he will be up against Pune FC whereas Lamine Tamba (Air India and Churchill Brothers) and Sandesh Gadkari (Air India) have already played against the hosts.

Other ex-Pune FC players in the Rangdajied roster are ‘keeper Shambhu Mistry and winger David Lalbiakzara,a former Pune FC academy graduate.

On the other hand,Pune FC defender Zohmingliana Ralte plied his trade for Ar-Hima in 2007-08 (as Rangdajied used to be known earlier) before moving across to city rivals Shillong Lajong FC.

The visitors will be missing the services of captain and playmaker Eugeneson Lyngdoh,along with medio Restomwell Khriam and Japanese winger Yohei Iwasaki.

In contrast,Pune FC has a full squad available for selection with no injuries or suspensions to deal with. However Pune FC have been dealt a severe blow with Equatoreal Guinea striker Raul Fabiani being ruled out for the season due to an abductor tear. The team management though has covered its bases,having signed replacement striker,Riga Mustapha.