SEPANG: It’s a dream come true for Queens Park Rangers (QPR) owner Tan Sri Tony Fernandes to have the English Premier League team playing in Malaysia.
In fact, he never imagined it would be realised so soon after taking over ownership of the London club just about a year ago. “It’s something special to be able to bring a club directly involved with a Malaysian to the country. I never thought it would be this soon,” he said in a video conference yesterday. QPR will play a Sabah selection in Kota Kinabalu on July 17 followed by a match against Kelantan on July 20 at the Shah Alam Stadium.
Waiting for QPR: AirAsia group commercial head Kathleen Tan (third from left) and Queens Park Rangers CEO Philip Beard (third from right) at the announcement of the QPR Asia Tour at AirAsia Academy in Sepang yesterday. — SAMUEL ONG / The Star
The London side will then face Indonesia’s Persebaya Surabaya in Surabaya on July 23. Tony and club manager Mark Hughes are currently in South Korea to seal sponsorship deals before the new EPL season starts on Aug 18. Hughes said he was excited about the club’s Asia Tour which is a part of the build-up for next season was exciting. But fans of Premier League bad boy Joey Barton could be disappointed as Hughes has decided against having him on the tour. “He’s currently serving a 12-match suspension and it makes no sense to bring him. He’s unlikely to be in the travelling squad,” said Hughes.
QPR chief executive officer Philip Beard said the Asia Tour was an important part of the team’s preparations for next season. “It won’t be just a PR trip for us. The matches that we play will help in our tune-up. “We will bring the first team for the tour,” said Beard, suggesting that the likes of new signing, England No. 2 goalkeeper Robert Green, and former Fulham striker Andrew Johnson will make the trip.
Tickets for matches are priced from RM30 to RM200 and can be bought online from http://www.redtix.airasia.com/. Details for the Surabaya match will be announced soon.
-thestar online.
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