India feels like my second home, says Punjab FC striker Luka Majcen ahead of Durand Cup clash

The veteran Punjab FC striker has enjoyed a fruitful few seasons in India.

Slovenian Luka Majcen has grown in Indian Football over the years and made himself popular among the fans. The former two-time I-League champion was also the “Hero of the League” and Golden Boot winner of the I-League 2022-23 season.

Stepping into his fifth season in India, the forward has extended his run with Punjab FC. Speaking about his time in India, he said, ”I am 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.”

Luka has spent two years with Punjab FC, helping the team become the first-ever club to get promoted to the Indian Super League (ISL) under Staikos Vergetis. But with the change in the helm at the club, the forward has had a positive influence under the new head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis.

“From the first Zoom meetings that we had, he explained to us very clearly his expectations from us. We have very good communication and mutual respect.

“For everything, he makes sure to explain why it is done in a certain manner and what is the expected outcome. And I think, we as a team are responding well to his instructions and we are trusting the process,” Luka Majcen said.

This is the third edition of the Durand Cup which Luka Majcen is a part of. He featured in the 130th edition of the Durand Cup with Bengaluru United FC and finished as a semi-finalist. He scored in the group stage against finalist Mohammedan SC. But during the last edition, he had to go through a dry run with debutant Punjab FC.

In the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup, Luka Majcen however has found the back of the net three times in Punjab FC’s opening two fixtures. “I feel honored to be featured 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,” Luka spoke about the Durand Cup’s role as the official season kick-starter of Indian Football.

“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 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. 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.

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