Bengaluru FC to tour Hong Kong, China

I-League champions Bengaluru FC will be travelling to Hong Kong and China as part of their pre-season preparations and will play three practice matches over two weeks, it was announced here Saturday.

BFC will be taking on Hong Kong Premier League side Eastern AA, current champions of the Hong Kong FA Cup and winners of the First Division four times, Sep 28.

In their second fixture, the Blues will be up against another club from Hong Kong, Kitchee SC, currently in the semi-finals of the AFC Cup.

BFC will end their trip with an Oct 9 game against Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R & F Football Club which is coached by former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Guangzhou finished third in the 2014 season of the Chinese Super League.

BFC coach Ashley Westwood said the tour would be ideal preparation given the club's participation in Asian competitions this season.

"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," Westwood said.

Regrouping in July after winning the I-League last season, Bengaluru FC travelled to Goa for a couple of friendlies against Salgaocar and Pune FC.

The club believes the trip away from India will further help the team's preparation for the season ahead.

"The team has worked very hard to win the League last year and, as a club, we felt that they should get the best possible preparation for the AFC games and the season in general," said Mustafa Ghouse, COO, Bengaluru FC.