While cynics may say far-flung pre season trips to the other side of the world are merely a club marketing ploy, there is another side to trips like United's 2009 Asia Tour.
For a lucky few, the three-match series starting on July 18 will be an opportunity to see some fabulous parts of Malaysia, South Korea and China.
Admittedly, it's pricey (on behalf of the club, Travelcare Sports sold packages for more than £7,000 per person) but journeying so far is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...and the football is an added bonus.
Among the top sites to see are the famous Petronas Twin Towers (pictured above) of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and the equally impressive architectural feat of the Bukit Jalil Stadium (pictured below left) - the joint ninth biggest ground in the world.
The last stop of the tour, Hangzhou in China, boasts some superb natural scenery and West Lake - a historic fresh water lake in the centre of the city.
Seoul in South Korea isn't without its charms either, featuring a variety of temples and shrines and traditional Korean villages.
For the rest of us at home, it will be the football alone that is the focus of our attention.
All the matches will be shown live on MUTV, though the kick off times aren't exactly ideal.
Tour fixtures
July
18, kick off 10:30 Malaysia XI
20, kick off 14:00 Indonesian Super League Select XI - CANCELLED
24, kick off 13:00 FC Seoul
26, kick off 12:00 Hangzhou Greentown
all live on MUTV
The two weekend games against the Malaysia XI and FC Seoul kick off at 10:30 and 13:00 UK time respectively, while a Friday game against Hangzhou Greentown starts at noon (stadium pictured right), which isn't ideal for workers.
On the other hand, it's a great chance to skive off work, find somewhere with MUTV and enjoy an oasis from the summer footballing desert.
In the coming days, we will bring you all you need to know about United's three opponents. Here's to a great trip and a quartet of victories.
Photographs used with the kind permission of Ted Steiner, Chonlada Bangluangsanti and Yeoj Tjean Kheng.
1 comment:
After seeing the first episode, the show promises to be an excellent production showing the civilization and intrigue of the Rome of Julius Caesar.i also Download Rome TV Show all episodes. Really i'm in love of this show. We can't place our own moral code on these characters.
Post a Comment