NE Lajong Super Series match shifted from Guwahati to Imphal

The first match of the North East Lajong Super Series between Australia's A-League side Wellington Phoenix of New Zealand and I-League team United Sikkim FC, scheduled to be held earlier in Guwahati on August 24, has been shifted to Imphal due to prevailing tense situation in the Assam capital.

Lajong FC owner Larsing Ming said that Wellington Phoenix have expressed reservation in playing in Guwahati due to recent violence in parts of northeastern Indian state of Assam and the match will be held in Imphal on the same date.

"Wellington Phoenix have some reservations in playing in Assam because of the tense situation in the state. So the match has been shifted to Imphal which will be played on the same date of August 24," Ming told PTI.

Imphal will also host the second match of the series on August 26 while the third match and the final on September 1 will be held in Shillong, the home of another I-League side Lajong FC and the third team in the series.

The tournament is being jointly organized by Shillong Lajong FC and JPR Events and supported by football association of Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur.

Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional club from New Zealand, which plays in Australia's premier professional football competition, the A-League.

The Kiwi team boasts of having four World Cup players, Tony Lochhead, Benjamin Sigmund, Leo Bertos and Jeremy Brockie who represented New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.