Punjab FC, the only team representing North India in India’s top-flight football league, has unveiled their 26-member squad for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. This marks their second season in the ISL after achieving promotion last year. The Shers, as they are known, will kick off their campaign against Kerala Blasters on September 15th in Kochi. Their first home game is scheduled for September 20th at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
Head Coach Panagiotis Dilmperis has assembled a squad that strikes a perfect balance between youth and experience. The team features six foreign signings: Luka Majcen, Mushaga Bakenga, Ezequiel Vidal, Ivan Novoselec, Asmir Suljic, and Filip Mrzljak. These players bring a wealth of experience to the team. The roster is also strengthened by a number of new Indian players: Vinit Rai, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Muheet Shabir, Nihal Sudeesh (on loan), and Likmabam Rakesh Singh (on loan). In a testament to the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent, Mohammed Suhail F. and Shami Singamayum, from the Punjab FC academy, have been promoted to the senior side, joining fellow academy graduates Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Manglenthang Kipgen, and Ayush Deshwal.
Coach Dilmperis expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to compete for top honors this season. “We have named a squad that can challenge for the top spots in the league this season,” he stated. “The foreign signings have plenty of experience, and we have an exciting pool of Indian players. We have also maintained the core of our Indian players from last season. Our pre-season has been good, and we hope we start our season well and perform to our best capacity.”
The coaching staff will be led by Dilmperis, assisted by Konstantinos Katsaras and Indian assistant coach Sankarlal Chakraborty. Papaioannou Ioannis will serve as the Strength and Conditioning Coach, while Manish Timsina will fill the role of Goalkeeping Coach.
