Punjab FC skipper Luka Majcen is delighted with the team’s decent run in the ongoing Durand Cup. The Shers registered a 3-0 win against Mumbai City FC’s reserve team at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Sunday. Mushaga Bakenga scored a brace whereas Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak also found the back of the net.
With this win, Punjab FC finished Group C tied with Kerala Blasters on seven points but the latter finished above them due to a superior goal difference. In the three matches, Luka Majcen also scored thrice for the club.
Speaking on playing in the Durand Cup, Luka Majcen said, “I feel honoured to be featuring in Asia’s oldest tournament. There are ISL teams with reserve sides, there are teams from lower divisions and also teams from the armed forces. It is a good way to start the preseason; you get the competitive games before the long season ahead and as a player, you need these matches.”
Meanwhile, Panagiotis Dilmperis has taken over the coaching baton Staikos Vergetis for Punjab FC, and taking part in the Durand Cup helped the players and the new coach to bond with each other.
“Initially, I didn’t know how we would react, how we would adjust to the new coach, even though there was a huge change in the players’ roster. But I think we found the chemistry from the first day, the first practice. The coach started with the basics and eventually prepared us for the first match, where everyone knew their roles really well. But in football, it’s almost difficult to play simple but I think we managed to keep it simple in our opening two games. Personally, I got a lot of chances in front of goals and was able to score thrice. So, for me as well as for the whole team, it’s been a positive start so far,” he concluded after shedding light on the team’s performance in the initial phase of the season.
Majcen was awarded “Player of the League” and Golden Boot winner of the 2022-23 I-League season and thus helped his team earn a promotion to the ISL.
Reflecting on his time in India, he said, “I am really enjoying India and that’s why I am coming back year after year. It took me some time to get into the ISL, which was my main focus at the beginning but overall I’ve loved my time here. I love the country, I love the people, I love the friends that I made; it feels like my second home.”
