I-League champions Bengaluru FC to have pre-season in Hong Kong and China

Bengaluru to play friendlies in Hong Kong and China; Photo Credit Bengaluru FC

Kolkata, 20th September: Inspire Football Management is proud to announce collaboration with I-League champions Bengaluru FC in organising their pre-season training camp in Hong Kong and China. Scheduled to leave on Wednesday, the I-League champions will play three practice matches over two weeks.

BFC will be taking on Hong Kong Premier League side Eastern AA on September 28. The team are current champions of the Hong Kong FA Cup and have won the First Division four times.

In their second fixture, the Blues will be up against another club from Hong Kong, Kitchee SC. Kitchee are currently in the semi-finals of the AFC Cup and have enjoyed much success in the League. Westwood’s team will end their trip with an October 9 game against Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F Football Club. Coached by former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Guangzhou finished 3rd in the 2014 season of the Chinese Super League.

Bengaluru FC head coach Ashley Westwood believes this pre-season training camp abroad would give them the ideal preparation for their I-League defence and the AFC Asian Champions League qualifiers.

Westwood said, “We are really looking forward to test ourselves in a foreign country at a different standard. We were proven and deserved champions of the I-League last season but now we are going to test ourselves at a different level. Playing some competitive games against teams from China and Hong Kong will give us an idea of how we will figure in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup. We are really grateful to the management and the owners for supporting our view and enabling us to set the benchmark of one of the most professionally run clubs in India.”

The Englishman added, “Hopefully the players will relish and flourish at this opportunity the club has given them to keep improving all the time and make a name for themselves in Indian football.”

Mustafa Ghouse, the Chief Operating Officer of Bengaluru FC, stated, “We all at Bengaluru FC are highly excited for the tour and are extremely happy collaborating with Inspire Football Management regarding the organisation of the full camp. It is an important trip for us keeping in mind the Asian level competitions where we wish to do well and also our very own I-League. Hoping to have a good tour”.

Inspire Football Management director Timir Baran Debnath said, “It is an honour for us to collaborate with Bengaluru FC. This trip has been made possible due to a complete team effort so I would like to thank my fellow directors Ankan Chattopadhyay, Partha Acharya and AKM Saifulla.”