STRONG BOND
CITY CHAIRMAN RELISHING THE TWO KING POWER CLUBS MEETING IN A PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY IN BELGIUM THIS AFTERNOON
LEICESTER City chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha is looking forward to a special occasion in Belgium today when the two King Power clubs meet in a pre-season friendly, writes Jordan Blackwell.
City flew to Belgium from their pre-season camp in Evian, France, yesterday ready to face sister club OH Leuven in their second fixture of the summer as they gear up for the new Premier League campaign.
After a side packed with youth players featured against Notts County last weekend, it will be the first chance for many of the City stars to get game time, with the fixture to be played over 120 minutes in order to get as many players as possible on to the pitch.
For Leuven, it will be their final game before the Belgian top flight begins next weekend.
But while it may be a friendly, the match means more to Top, who will be in attendance.
Although the clubs have played each other behind closed doors, they have never faced off in public.
The chairman, pictured, believes it well help solidify the bond between the clubs.
He said in a blog on Leuven’s website: “It has been a long time since I was able to experience a match with the supporters in the King Power at Den Dreef Stadium.
“I am very much looking forward to coming to Leuven again and meeting you.
“I’ve missed the city, I’ve missed the stadium and, most of all, I’ve missed the excitement and activity around a match.
“The game is even more special for me because the two teams of the King Power family, OH Leuven and Leicester City FC, will be playing against each other for the first time in Leuven.
“A great moment to celebrate the 20th anniversary of OH Leuven.
“It may be the first time that both teams have met in Leuven, but both clubs have built up a wonderful working relationship in recent years. “Opportunities were and are being created for players and employees to experience different experiences and diverse environments and, above all, to exchange knowledge and learn.
“It is also not the first time that the two supporter groups have bonded with each other. “Both groups of supporters already visited each other in Leicester and Leuven and each time the cordial moments ensured a strong bond.
“I am therefore sure that tomorrow there will be bonding again before, during and after the game, probably with a few beers.
“The main focus of the game is on preparing for the season. It promises to be a pleasant match, which will serve to sharpen the physicality of the players and build up match rhythm and this without injuries.”