Sydney United 58 to play Shanghai Shenhua FC in China
In a massive boost for the PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, 2016 Premiers and NPL Champions Sydney United 58 have been invited by Chinese Super League powerhouse club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC to play a friendly match as well as engage in a week long training camp in China this Saturday.
The new look Reds, who are now coached by former Grade 20s coach and ex-Croatian Under 21 international Davor Bajsic, having taken over from Mark Rudan this year, will have the opportunity to unleash his new signings with the likes of Nick Olsen, Ante Tomic, Petar Markovic, Anthony Tomelic and Adrian Vranic all hoping to impress the man in charge.
The new recruits will join the likes of Panni Nikas, Nick Stavroulakis, Glen Trifiro, Yianni Fragogiannis, Chris Payne, Tomislav Uskok, Matthew Bilic and Kris Vlismas to name a few on route to Shanghai.
Club captain Nick Stavroulakis in particular was looking forward to the week-long training camp in China which has also acted as a great opportunity to further bond with the new players.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have been given this chance to play against one of Asian football’s best clubs.
“To think that we could face players such as Carlos Tevez, Obafemi Martins and Fredy Guarin is quite surreal and has not sunk in yet.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for the team to further bond as well as commence our preparations for the upcoming PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season where we hope to win more silverware for the club.”
The club will depart from Sydney on Saturday 28th of January and will take in a week long camp that will see the former NSL giants settle in Shanghai for a training camp where they will take on one of the world’s wealthiest teams on Tuesday 31st of January.
Coached by none other than former Uruguayan international Gus Poyet, the club could potentially unearth the world’s highest paid footballer in Argentine legend Carlos Tevez in marking his debut after his move from Boca Juniors against the Edensor Park based side.
Other potential superstars awaiting the Reds’ arrival will be former Nigerian ace Obafemi Martins, Colombian Internationals Fredy Guarin and Giovanni Moreno as well as a whole host of Chinese internationals.
Shanghai Shenhua could potentially face an Australian side in the forthcoming Asian Champions League Play-Off stages in the form of Brisbane Roar should John Aloisi’s men win their Preliminary Stage match against the Philippines’ Global FC or Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.
The club will arrive back in Sydney on Friday 3rd of February before jetting off again, this time to Melbourne on Sunday 5th of February to take on fellow club Melbourne Knights in Victoria in their annual Friendship Cup clash.