17-year-old Singamayum Shami makes historic debut for Punjab FC in ISL

The youngster is an academy graduate, joining the club at only 12 years of age.

Punjab FC defeated Hyderabad FC in the opening game of Matchweek 3 of the Indian Super League (ISL) on Wednesday, registering three straight wins and clinching the top spot in the points table. The club has seen quite a contrast to their start to the previous season, and coach Panagiotis Dilmperis will hope that the momentum is maintained, and they keep performing the way they currently are. 

Amidst Punjab FC’s comfortable win yesterday, 17-year-old Singamayum Shami’s debut for the Shers marked a special moment for the youngster and the club. Shami replaced Abhishek Singh in the closing minutes of the game. 

The Manipur-born midfielder joined Punjab FC way back in 2012 and has come through the ranks of the club over the years, representing the club across all age categories – U-17s and U-21s. Last season, Shami made 10 appearances in the U-17 Youth League for the club, scoring six goals, and was amongst the best performers in the league. 

With a debut at such a young age, the future seems pretty bright for Shami, as he gets to work under the guidance of experienced players like Ezequiel Vidal, Filip Mrzjlak, Luka Majcen, and head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis.

Once a cub. Now a Sher! 🦁A proud moment for all of us at the Club as Singamayum Shami makes his @IndSuperLeague debut 🎊Now 17 years old, the youngster joined the Club as a 12-year-old, coming through the youth ranks before his arrival on the big stage. 🛬#PunjabDaJosh pic.twitter.com/cVIelmgeIC

— Punjab FC (@RGPunjabFC) September 26, 2024

A promising season ahead for Punjab FC

Punjab FC are currently enjoying a great run of form, as they have a perfect record in the league so far, and stand top of the table. Despite the injury to their star striker Luka Majcen, Punjab FC have coped quite well, and the rest of the squad has truly stepped up to fill the void left by the Slovenian skipper. 

Talented foreigners like Mrzjlak, Vidal, and Ivan Novoselec, combined with the Shers’ immaculate Indian talent, have given them the perfect blend of players in their squad this season. Punjab FC are definitely going to be serious contenders for the top six spot this season, and will also look to bag some silverware on the road. 

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