Lithuania Cheered for Hajduk: Grandmas in the Whites' Jerseys
Rokas Pukštas scored a goal and impressed with his play, while in the stands in Vilnius, grandmas Violeta and Rasa cheered him on the loudest.
Rokas Pukštas scored a goal and impressed with his play, while in the stands in Vilnius, grandmas Violeta and Rasa cheered him on the loudest.
Hajduk's footballers secured a convincing 5:2 victory against Žalgiris in the third qualifying round of the Conference League, but the match played on August 6, 2026, in Vilnius will also be remembered for a special family story. American midfielder of Lithuanian descent Rokas Pukštas, one of the best players of the match and scorer of the fifth goal for the Split club, had support in the stands that touched many.
As reported by Net.hr, Pukštas was cheered on in the Lithuanian capital by his grandmas, Violeta and Rasa. Both proudly wore Hajduk jerseys with the number 21, the same number their grandson wears, showing their support in the land of his roots. With this gesture, the grandmas also caught the attention of local fans, turning part of the stands into a small corner of Split's fan culture.
Rokas Pukštas comes from a highly athletic family. His father, Mindaugas, is a marathon runner who competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, while his mother, Živilė, is a coach. This athletic background has clearly shaped the young midfielder, who showcased his abundant talent and goal-scoring instinct against Žalgiris.
With his goal and overall performance, Pukštas confirmed his status as one of Hajduk's key players in European competitions, and the fact that he did it in front of his grandmas, in the country of his heritage, adds extra emotional weight to this victory.
In the match itself, Hajduk dominated and defeated Lithuanian side Žalgiris with a high 5:2 scoreline. Pukštas's goal was the icing on the cake of a brilliant team performance, which brought the Split club to the brink of advancing to the next stage of the competition. However, the images of the grandmas in Hajduk jerseys, following their grandson's every move from the stands, remain one of the most beautiful sights of this European football evening.
