RoundGlass Punjab FC is now the champion of Hero I-League 2022-23, and they are the first I-League Club to get promoted to the Indian Super League (ISL). Their I-League win with one match to spare was historic, beating Rajasthan United in the national capital, New Delhi.
Sunny Singh, the owner of RoundGlass Punjab FC, expressed his pride in his team and acknowledged that their win was a result of hard work, grit, and an affirmation that RoundGlass Punjab FC is on the right path to inspire the youth in India.
The team’s success was due to the strong desire they had to win the title, and with this goal in mind, they set out on a journey that turned out to be one for the history books. They represented the state of Punjab, which has a rich sporting history and had to follow the path of teams such as JCT Mills, who have won the League before them.
Here are some of the awards that RGPFC players and coaches won during the I-League season : RoundGlass Punjab Team
- Syed Abdul Rahim Award for the Best Coach of the Season – Staikos Vergetis, Head Coach
- Top Scorer of the League with 16 goals – Luka Majcen
- Hero of the League – Luka Majcen
- Best Midfielder of the League – Juan Mera
- Best Goalkeeper of the League (11 clean sheets) – Kiran Kumar Limbu
The team was led in the field by their enigmatic Head Coach, Staikos Vergetis, who transformed the mindset of the players and nurtured a winning mentality in the dressing room. The man leading the Club behind the scenes was Nikolas Topoliatis, Football Director of RoundGlass Punjab FC, who was previously with legendary Greek club Olympiakos for 13 years. He strategically put together a formidable side with some brilliant signings, including the head coach and the coaching staff. He also emphasized on promoting youngsters from the RoundGlass Punjab Football Academy to the senior side.
RGPFC played an attractive brand of football that resonated with the club’s ideology to inspire young children to fall in love with the game. Staikos had a wonderful coaching staff that included Strength and Conditioning Coach Nikolaos Tsagkatakis and Assistant Coach Dimitrios Kakkos, who were brought along with him from Greece.
The team’s sharp approach was clear from their marauding run in the season, racking up 52 points from 22 matches, 10 points clear of Sreenidi Deccan, who finished in second place. They scored 45 goals, the highest in the League and conceded just 16 times, second best in the league behind Gokulam Kerala and kept 12 clean sheets. They kept their home ground, Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, as a fortress, remaining unbeaten in the season, securing 10 wins and drawing just once to Rajasthan United. They only lost twice in the whole season away from home to TRAU FC in Imphal and Sreenidi Deccan in Hyderabad.
RoundGlass Punjab FC’s journey to winning the I-League
RoundGlass Punjab FC values its Academy and the development of players by having a robust training system that provides youngsters with holistic development. This was evident in the senior team also as defender Tekcham Abhishek Singh, midfielder Manglenthang Kipgen, and goalkeeper Jaskarenvir Singh were handed their senior I-League debuts. Abhishek Singh, in fact, scored in their 8-0 victory over Sudeva Delhi.
The attack line was led by Slovenian Luka Majcen and Spaniard Juan Mera, who created menace in the opposition and were deadlier as the season progressed. Luka Majcen finished as the league’s top scorer with 16 goals, winning the Hero of the League award, while Juan Mera won the Best Midfielder of the League award for his impressive displays throughout the season. Their partnership was a joy to watch, and they complemented each other perfectly on the field.
The team’s defensive line was also rock solid, led by the goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu, who won the Best Goalkeeper of the League award for keeping 11 clean sheets. His heroics in the goalpost were one of the reasons why RoundGlass Punjab FC conceded only 16 goals in the season.
RoundGlass Punjab FC’s journey to winning the I-League was dominant, and they were deserved champions. Their focus on youth development and the promotion of young players is a model for other clubs to follow. Their attractive brand of football was exciting to watch, and their success in the I-League has set them up perfectly for the Indian Super League.
RoundGlass Punjab FC’s journey to winning the I-League was a testament to their hard work, determination, and focus on youth development. They have set a new benchmark for other clubs to follow, and their promotion to the Indian Super League is a reflection of their success on the field. With their young, talented squad and experienced coaching staff, RoundGlass Punjab FC is a team to watch out for in the upcoming seasons.
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