Post by Scott on May 30, 2006 14:54:06 GMT
From ManUtd.com:
Former United goalkeeper Gary Bailey has told the Reds to expect some tough opposition on their pre-season tour of South Africa.
Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge are set to go on sale in South Africa this Thursday, 1 June. And although the World Cup will be won and lost in the meantime, fans are already excited by the prospect of seeing United play Orlando Pirates in Durban on 15 July and Kaizer Chiefs in Cape Town on 18 July. Finally, the Reds will play the winners of a Pirates / Chiefs play-off in Pretoria on 22 July.
"I've played in a few pre-season friendlies when you find yourself with egg on your face!" Gary told MUTV.
"You can't mess about with (so-called) minor opposition because on their day they can be very useful, especially when you're playing in an unfamiliar environment in very different conditions.
"I don't think any of United's games in South Africa will be easy. It'll be the middle of winter during their visit so some of the pitches will be bone-dry. There will be rain in Cape Town and it'll be very humid in Durban.
"Overall, I think it will be a good test for United before the start of next season."
Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to take the players who have been heavily involved in the World Cup, and will consequently give thousands of United fans in South Africa a glimpse of the first-team's bright future.
"The boys were last here in 1993 and that was a great occasion for all the fans," recalled Bailey, who made 375 appearances for United before returning to South Africa in 1987.
"This summer fans will get the chance to see some of the older established pros like Scholes and Giggs, as well as the younger stars of the squad in Kieran Richardson, Gerard Pique and Giuseppe Rossi.
"Everyone is very much looking forward to United's visit and I'm sure the team will get a fantastic reception when they arrive."
Former United goalkeeper Gary Bailey has told the Reds to expect some tough opposition on their pre-season tour of South Africa.
Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge are set to go on sale in South Africa this Thursday, 1 June. And although the World Cup will be won and lost in the meantime, fans are already excited by the prospect of seeing United play Orlando Pirates in Durban on 15 July and Kaizer Chiefs in Cape Town on 18 July. Finally, the Reds will play the winners of a Pirates / Chiefs play-off in Pretoria on 22 July.
"I've played in a few pre-season friendlies when you find yourself with egg on your face!" Gary told MUTV.
"You can't mess about with (so-called) minor opposition because on their day they can be very useful, especially when you're playing in an unfamiliar environment in very different conditions.
"I don't think any of United's games in South Africa will be easy. It'll be the middle of winter during their visit so some of the pitches will be bone-dry. There will be rain in Cape Town and it'll be very humid in Durban.
"Overall, I think it will be a good test for United before the start of next season."
Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to take the players who have been heavily involved in the World Cup, and will consequently give thousands of United fans in South Africa a glimpse of the first-team's bright future.
"The boys were last here in 1993 and that was a great occasion for all the fans," recalled Bailey, who made 375 appearances for United before returning to South Africa in 1987.
"This summer fans will get the chance to see some of the older established pros like Scholes and Giggs, as well as the younger stars of the squad in Kieran Richardson, Gerard Pique and Giuseppe Rossi.
"Everyone is very much looking forward to United's visit and I'm sure the team will get a fantastic reception when they arrive."
