Shillong, Aug 21: Continuous heavy rain, that has lasted for more than 24 hours, will not dampen the spirits of tens of thousands of football-loving fans who will back the home side Shillong Lajong FC, as they prepare to face Kolkata giants and Durand Cup 2023 runners-up, East Bengal FC, in the Durand Cup 2024 quarterfinal match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Wednesday evening.

The Durand Cup quarterfinal is one of the biggest matches the city will host and one of the most significant stages for any Shillong-based team. Although Shillong has hosted several I-League matches before, the Durand Cup is on another level, with 24 teams from across India and neighboring countries participating. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the atmosphere is set to be electric, with a massive home crowd expected to turn out on Wednesday to back the home side.

For true football fans, they know that the game will be like a ‘David versus Goliath’ battle, as East Bengal—one of the most successful and decorated football teams in the nation, and runners-up in last year’s edition—will face off against Shillong Lajong.

East Bengal’s team is packed with talents- including Shouvik Chakrabarti, Cleiton Silva, goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh, and former Shillong Lajong star and Manipur’s best midfielder, Naorem Mahesh Singh. But East Bengal will have to contend with more than just the 11 men in red—Shilllong Lajong FC who will have the entire city of Shillong behind them.

Online tickets for the game have been sold out a day before the match, with only a few offline tickets available as hundreds of fans continue to wait to get their hands on them.

The last Durand Cup match of Shillong Lajong FC was against ISL side Goa FC, which drew an attendance of over 14,000 fans. However, Wednesday’s match against East Bengal is expected to set a new record, though it may not surpass the record attendance of over 30,000 fans during the first-ever I-League match in the state against Air India in 2009.

Although East Bengal has faced such situations many times, can the Kolkata giants handle it on a cold, rainy day in Shillong?

The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, not just because of the quality on the natural grass pitch, but because of the sheer passion and energy that will radiate from the stands. This sends a clear message that Shillong is ready to host big tournaments. Please take note ISL organisers – Shillong is ready!

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