Shillong, Jan 26: Shillong Lajong FC have split with another of their foreign players – this time it’s Abdou Karim Samb (pictured) of Senegal.
This particular announcement (made yesterday evening) wasn’t too much of a surprise given that the striker hasn’t exactly set the pitch alight. At the same time, the club also informed that it had parted ways with Kongbrailatpam Manjit Sharma.
“We would like to thank both Karim and Manjit for their dedication and contribution to the club. Wishing them both all the best in their future endeavours,” SLFC said on social media.
Lajong had previously let go of Takuto Miki late last year after just six I-League matches. That was apparently largely down to unhappiness on the player’s part with not getting enough game time.
During this month’s transfer window, Lajong have hired a Brazilian and Nepali as the team prepares to restart their I-League campaign. The league has been on a break to accommodate the Super Cup, where Lajong finished with three defeats in their group.
Karim played in all three matches (one as a starter and twice as a substitute) but didn’t score. He did, however, score three goals in the 11 I-League matches he played for SLFC. That, though, wasn’t enough and he never really looked like comfortable on the pitch.
Manjit, meanwhile, is a bit of an unknown quantity for TSR. He has played for I-League sides NEROCA and Sudeva in the past and we saw him in Shillong last year going against Lajong when he was with FC Bengaluru United in the Second Division League and he even scored a goal on that occasion.
But we don’t know when Lajong signed him, though he was included in their Super Cup squad. However, he only played a few minutes of the last match as a stoppage time substitute.
(TSR file photo)
