Lajong duo aims to take club places
Seikhohau Tuboi and Anil Gurung have played together for only three games but Lajong FC coach Stanly Rozario is convinced that they are the best bet upfront. “Both have an amazing goal-scoring touch, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Seikhohau Tuboi and Anil Gurung have played together for only three games but Lajong FC coach Stanly Rozario is convinced that they are the best bet upfront. “Both have an amazing goal-scoring touch. They are quick, agile and they are fighters. This set-up is doing very well and no way am I going to change it,” the former East Bengal coach said, a day after Lajong shut the door on Dempo, thanks to a superb back-volleyed effort from Tuboi, besides a goal from Gurung.
Tuboi has two goals from as many matches in the Federation Cup, and the two turned out together for the first time against Salgaocar in the I-League. “Coach has asked me to play a little behind Tuboi and feed him with opportunities,” said Gurung, a striker in the Nepal team. They did just that to fetch the winner against Dempo. “While Tuboi is good in the air, Gurung is exceptional with his footwork. We are sticking to a plan regarding the forwards,” Rozario said.
Tuboi is not new to competitive football. The 20-year-old played for Lajong in the second division earlier this year and also turned out for the Army XI. Posted with the Assam Regiment, Tuboi was part of Manipur's Santosh Trophy team in 2006. Next year, he wants to play for the Services and maybe “some other big club”. “My height is a problem, but I try to make up for it with my speed and agility,” said Tuboi, all of 5'4''.
It was the lure of playing competitive football in a “big” league in the sub-continent that attracted Gurung to India. “If a country's domestic league is strong, they tend to produce a great national team. India is an example,” said the 21-year-old.
Gurung also attributed the recent success of the India under-23 team at the SAFF Cup to this factor. “Most of the players play for big clubs and are quite experienced at the highest form. I wanted to acquire the experience as well,” said Gurung, who was born in Pokhara, Nepal.
Both Tuboi and Gurung admit it’s the community feeling at Lajong that attracted them to the club. “We are still new. But with experience, we can do anything,” said Tuboi.
Let's hope the 'anything' becomes a routine, not a one-off incident.