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| Perth adviser Tony Hughes |
MAKATI--An A-League team spices up the UFL All-Star Week starting on Wednesday, and for the said Australian club, going up north for their buildup is beneficial for them.
"We see that Asia is a really important part for our development, and the opportunity to come to the Philippines is interesting for us," Tony Hughes, the adviser of Perth, told Dugout Philippines on Tuesday night during the UFL All-Star Week press conference at The Beacon.
On why Perth chose the Philippines for their buildup for the upcoming A-League season, Hughes explained, "I was blown away by the enthusiasm of the people of the Philippines. I'm interested with what's happening with your league in terms of national development as well."
He, however, admitted that Perth has just returned to practice recently. On the other hand, he sees facing squads already jelling as good for them.
"We're playing teams here that are in the mid-season, and their fitness is at a peak point. That will be good for us in terms of the preseason because of the quality of the opposition," he said in particular.
Known as the Glory, Perth takes on league-leading Global on Wednesday before taking on the UFL All-Stars in the UFL All-Star Game on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Capping Perth's Philippine trip is a showdown with the Philippine Azkals next Tuesday at the new Quirino Stadium in Vigan, and Hughes was ecstatic to take on one of the world's fastest-rising national football teams.
"For a league side, [playing against a national side] doesn't come up very often. We jumped to that opportunity," he further said.
Perth, which finished fifth in the A-League last season, will use the said preseason tour as the start of their quest to win it all by 2020.
"We set out a four-year strategic plan. Hopefully, we win it by 2020. We got big ambitions," Hughes continued.
Perth has a good championship history, winning three premiership titles and two playoff, known as finals series, championships in A-League predecessor, the NSL, and making the Top 6 last season is a good start for the team to achieve their A-League dream.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
"We're playing teams here that are in the mid-season, and their fitness is at a peak point. That will be good for us in terms of the preseason because of the quality of the opposition," he said in particular.
Known as the Glory, Perth takes on league-leading Global on Wednesday before taking on the UFL All-Stars in the UFL All-Star Game on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Capping Perth's Philippine trip is a showdown with the Philippine Azkals next Tuesday at the new Quirino Stadium in Vigan, and Hughes was ecstatic to take on one of the world's fastest-rising national football teams.
"For a league side, [playing against a national side] doesn't come up very often. We jumped to that opportunity," he further said.
Perth, which finished fifth in the A-League last season, will use the said preseason tour as the start of their quest to win it all by 2020.
"We set out a four-year strategic plan. Hopefully, we win it by 2020. We got big ambitions," Hughes continued.
Perth has a good championship history, winning three premiership titles and two playoff, known as finals series, championships in A-League predecessor, the NSL, and making the Top 6 last season is a good start for the team to achieve their A-League dream.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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