Australia NewsPhoenix Eye Up Asian Opening |
EXCLUSIVE: Wellington Phoenix are determined to remain a fixture of the Asian football scene and will use the club's two-match tour of China as a chance to strengthen ties with the region.
Ricki Herbert's men leave New Zealand tomorrow as they prepare to face both Tianjin Teda and Guangzhou.
As well as being vital preparation for the players, the trip is also the club's first real opportunity to bang the drum in Asia.
Phoenix may be part of the Asian region through the A-League but haven't been embraced by the top brass at the AFC. The organisation's president has questionned their continued involvement in the competition beyond 2011.
Wellington insist they are here to stay as far as the A-League goes and that means remaining part of Asia.
Pignata told au.fourfourtwo.com today: "We are looking forward to the trip to China. It's the club's first one outside of Australia. We play two games before heading back to take on Central Coast Mariners."
While Herbert will use the matches to guage his players' progress, Pignata will be busy talking up the club and hopefully generating fresh interest from a potentially lucrative market.
He added: "It's another way for us to promote the Phoenix brand, certainly. It's a chance to perhaps talk to potential sponsors, investors and establish contacts.
"It might lead to a situation where loan players could go over there, some come to Wellington. All things to explore."
Joining the squad for the Chinese tour will be Brazilian striker Anderson De Jesus Ramos, known as Anderson Potty.
He has been playing his football in Saudi Arabia. Pignata said: "We'll have a look at him over there. He fits the bill in that he's a big, tall target man."
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