Lajong upbeat after beating Wellington Phoenix

"We are going to make a statement in both Federation Cup and the I-League," the club's newly appointed head coach Desmond Bulpin told reporters today prior to the team's departure for the Federation Cup encounter slated from September 19-26.

"And, the statement is that we are not going to lie down and not going to surrender, but fight up till the last minute of every game," he said.

Bulpin's entry was also seen as the right thing at the right time for the club as it prepared for the Federation Cup and I-League this season.

The former Indian Arrows coach has addressed a few of the team's issues like managing the defence and improving the coordination. During a three-week preparation, the team has been working hard, practising three times a day.

The captain for the season, Rennedy Singh was optimistic about the team's performance this season considering the new style of football advocated by the new coach.

"Since 1996, the year I started playing at the I-League, I have not played a better game that what we have played against the Kiwis last month," Singh said.

"If we continue to play in the style we are playing now, we can beat any opposition team anytime anywhere," he said.

The icing on the cake for the club was the signing of Gbenebe Friday who scored seven goals in three matches.

Bulpin said he was signing a foreign player in a few days' time, besides roping in an Asian player.