Guwahati, Aug 28 (IANS): Indian Super League (ISL) franchise NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) will be conducting its 2015 pre-season training in South Africa from September 1 to September 22.
The ISL's season 2 starts on October 3. The team will be hosted by the South African Indoor Football Association (SAIFA), an affiliate of the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The entire team will assemble in Durban and shall be availing world-class training facilities next to the Moses Mabhida stadium, one of the host venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The NEUFC head coach, Cesar Farias, expressed his delight when asked about his thoughts on the pre-season training.
“I am very excited to have the pre-season camp in a country that has, firstly and fore mostly, hosted a World Cup and possesses great facilities and wonderful people. I was there during the FIFA World Cup 2010 and I am familiar with the passion and love that South Africa has for this beautiful game," Farias said in a release.
"We will make the best of this trip with the team. The friendlies played will be against quality opposition teams, which will aid our preparation," the head coach added.
The NEUFC will play friendlies against a South African Premier Soccer League team and South Africa's Under-23 teams during its three-week stay.