Pukštas Makes Emotional Return to Lithuania
American midfielder of Lithuanian descent highlights the special significance of Hajduk's away match against Žalgiris in the Conference League.
American midfielder of Lithuanian descent highlights the special significance of Hajduk's away match against Žalgiris in the Conference League.
For Rokas Pukštas, Hajduk's 21-year-old American midfielder, the trip to Lithuania is more than just another European fixture. Ahead of the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round against Žalgiris, scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 7 PM in Vilnius, Pukštas makes no secret of his emotions about returning to his parents' homeland.
The player of Lithuanian descent spoke openly about the special meaning of this tie. "I'm excited to be back. I've spent a lot of time in Lithuania. My grandparents are here. I'm looking forward to the match. My parents grew up here. I have many fond memories of this place," Pukštas said ahead of the game, as reported by Tportal.
Journalists were curious whether he ever considers playing for the Lithuanian national team, but the young midfielder left no room for doubt. "Right now, I'm only focused on Hajduk. I'm not thinking about that. We have a match we need to win," Pukštas stated firmly, having already committed his international future to the United States.
The match will also have an added dimension, as Žalgiris features Marko Capan, a former Hajduk player. Pukštas revealed they have remained on excellent terms. "He's a hard worker and a friend of mine. He helped me a lot when I first arrived. We had the same individual coach. We're in regular contact, and I wish him all the best," Pukštas said about his former club colleague.
Hajduk will be looking for a favorable result in this first leg ahead of the return match, and Pukštas is expected to be one of the key players in their bid to advance to the group stage, buoyed by family support from the stands.
