Blackburn Rovers head to India
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BLACKBURN Rovers have pencilled in a friendly match against Brazilian side Flamengo in Calcutta during the summer.
Rovers’ Indian owners Venky’s had previously expressed an intention to take the club to their home country for a pre-season match.
The game is scheduled before Rovers play in the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong between July 27 and 30.
Source : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8948127.Blackburn_Rovers_head_to_India/">http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sp ... _to_India/</a><!-- m -->
Rovers’ Indian owners Venky’s had previously expressed an intention to take the club to their home country for a pre-season match.
The game is scheduled before Rovers play in the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong between July 27 and 30.
Source : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8948127.Blackburn_Rovers_head_to_India/">http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sp ... _to_India/</a><!-- m -->
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Blackburn manager Steve Kean has confirmed owners Venky's intend to take the club to India for a pre-season friendly in the summer. The Indian poultry firm took over at Ewood Park in December.
Suggestions of a friendly on the sub-continent had been mooted previously and Kean, who had his regular monthly meeting with the owners in late March, has confirmed plans are being put in place.
"It was a very good meeting. We spoke about pre-season and we are probably going to play a game against (Brazilian side) Flamengo in India before moving on to Hong Kong for the Premier League Asia Trophy," he said. "We will probably do a pre-season camp in Europe and then have quite a long stint in India and Hong Kong - it will probably be a 13 or 14-day trip.
"The quality of the games will be good and it will be an opportunity to globally expand the club. We just want to show other parts of the world who have not seen the team play, that is one of the main ideas of the owners, to expand who we are in emerging markets. I think they (Venky's) are taking 2,000 people as guests to the tournament in Hong Kong - it lets other parts of the world see us and gives us good exposure."
Kean said, despite receiving criticism, the new owners they had stressed to him they were focused on the future. Rovers' first priority is to safeguard their Premier League future as they are currently just two points above the relegation zone.
"They are very excited and very committed to the club long-term," he told Rovers Player. "They watch the games - although not live - and they are excited about the young guys who have come into the team.
"They are very excited about the future and it is my job to make sure the future is going to be bright. We have to get the points as quickly as we can, have a strong finish, climb up the table and get beyond tenth position if we can."
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Blackburn Rovers players will play alongside Indian boys by dividing themselves among the final eight teams from the four cities.
To be held in Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, the football mini-tournament will see its finals happen on July 23rd in Pune. Blackburn Rovers players will play alongside Indian boys by dividing themselves among the final eight teams from the four cities.
16 Rovers players will divide themselves into the eight finalist teams and play in their final matches. Youngsters will get to play alongside the likes of Chris Samba, Paul Robinson, David Dunn, Brett Emerton, David Hoilett, Jason Roberts, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Michel Salgado, Martin Olsson, Steven Nzonzi and Ryan Nelsen.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Venkys-to-bring-Blackburn-Rovers-first-team-to-India-on-July-23/5192220726">http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Ne ... 5192220726</a><!-- m -->
it will be horrible... how can Juniors who doesn't have experience in professional football can play against EPL team <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->
Blackburn Rovers postpone pre-season friendly in India over security fears
Blackburn Rovers, owned by Indian poultry firm Venky's, were due to become the first Premier League club to play in the country.
However, last week's fatal explosions in Mumbai - which is 200 km from where their game in Pune was due to be staged - have persuaded the club to put off the visit until the autumn.
"The trip is not cancelled it is postponed to another date because of the activity out there," said manager Steve Kean.
"The board had a meeting with the owners and spoke and decided we had to go through a number of different checks and that trip will now take place at the beginning of October."
It had been suggested a number of players were against travelling but Kean denied that was the case.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/8648160/Blackburn-Rovers-postpone-pre-season-friendly-in-India-over-security-fears.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... fears.html</a><!-- m -->