The Rydalmere Lions NPL2 side are embarking on an 11-day pre-season tour of Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore

Rydalmere take NPL2 prep overseas with tour of South-East Asia

Rydalmere Lions footballers Johnny Isimigos and Michael Kouesiabo will be part of a pre-season tour of South-East Asia ahead of the upcoming NPL2 season. Pictures: Angelo Velardo

A pre-season tour to Singapore last year put the Rydalmere Lions on the path to National Premier League promotion and coach Tony Basha is hoping a similar trip this year will provide a similar outcome.

The Lions began their 2017 NPL3 preparations with a series of practice matches against Singapore national league side Geylang International.

They ended last year as champions, with their 99 goal-haul breaking the record for goals in a season.

With a tougher competition on the horizon for 2018, Rydalmere’s now NPL2 side last week embarked on an 11-day tour throughout South East Asia that will not only see them face top-flight teams in Singapore, but Malaysia and Thailand as well.

The Lions will be playing a series of exhibition matches against top-flight sides throughout Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore

Basha said with tougher competition comes tougher preparation.

“It’s been a very intense, really, really tough pre-season.

“It’s always good to go away and play professional teams but preparing for the trip has been very gruelling. We’ve trained in the 45 degree heat and gone to saunas to prepare for the conditions.

“We’ve got to have the edge against the better teams we’ll be playing this year.”

Basha added the trip would also serve to bring the team closer.

“We haven’t travelled with our full team — probably about 90 per cent — but it brings the boys closer.

“That’s paramount for me. It means the boys will fight for each other on the field.”