The Durand Cup will commence in Kolkata next month and it will be the first time the club will participate in the 130-year-old tournament.
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Indian club FC Bengaluru United have made a couple of marquee signings in the form of Luka Majcen and Pedro Manzi ahead of the start of the new domestic season. The club were recently crowned the champions of the BDFA Super Division and will be a participant in the prestigious Durand Cup competition in the new season. The two players will start off the new campaign in that competition itself. The Durand Cup will commence in Kolkata next month and it will be the first time the club will participate in the 130-year-old tournament. Despite being a nascent side, Bengaluru United have made leaps and bounds when it comes to domestic success in a short period of time. Just within three years of the club’s inception, they won their first trophy. The addition of the two foreign players will definitely strengthen the squad further.
Luka Majcen is a 32-year-old Slovenian attacker who joined the club as a free agent after a one-season stint with Churchill Brothers in last season’s I-League. He had an impressive season with the club from Goa, netting 11 goals in total. He finished in second place in the race for the golden boot that season. Majcen used to play in Slovenian domestic football before making the move to India. He is a two-time winner of the Slovenian Cup, which is the top knockout tournament in Slovenian football.
“I am delighted to join FC Bengaluru United for the new season,” Majcen said. “The club has a clear goal and vision about where they see themselves in the coming years, which is to be playing in the I-League. My objective is to help the team win and achieve this goal together with my new teammates. I am excited about the opportunity and am looking forward to working with Head Coach Richard Hood, whose reputation as one of the sharpest coaches in Indian football precedes him,” he added.
The club’s second new arrival, Pedro Manzi, is a striker that well and truly has left his mark on Indian football. The Spanish forward scored a whopping 26 goals in his debut season in 2018 for Chennai City FC. It was this goal-scoring prowess that led him to the golden boot and his side to the I League crown that year. A partnership between him and Majcen would indeed be one to look out for, even for the comparatively bigger clubs.
“I am very happy to return to India and play for FC Bengaluru United. Bengaluru has a great sporting culture, and the fans really support their team. I would like to use all my career experience to help the team grow, whether it is with my offensive tactical play, assists for goals, and also the way I apply pressure with my defensive skills,” Manzi said. “Being part of the FC Bengaluru United journey will help me in my own professional journey. I was excited to accept this challenge and look forward to playing a leading role in guiding the club to the I-League. The club has seamless processes in place and has enjoyed a great growth journey over the last few years – the results are there for all to see. So, it was very easy for me to accept the offer after speaking to their head Coach, Richard Hood, and General Manager, Somanna CS,” he added.
