Antalya, Aug 27 (IANS) Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Pune City has commenced preparations for the upcoming football tournament in Turkey, a club release on Thursday said.
The second edition of ISL begins on October 3.
“The head coach, support staff and players are all impressed with their ongoing stint in Turkey. We couldn’t think of a better way to get ready for the 2015 season,” Gaurav Modwel, Pune’s CEO, said in the release.
This is the phase two of FC Pune City’s pre-season training plans. In the first phase, a conditioning camp was conducted at the team’s home ground at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune.
The entire squad, including the foreign signings, has assembled here to be trained Britsh coach David Platt.
Platt praised the facilities and had encouraging words for the Indian players.
“The facilities here are top notch and as good as anywhere in the world. I am delighted with the attitude of players and their appetite to work hard. I had heard so much about the so called limitations of domestic players but none of that was in evidence here,” said Platt in the release.
The team’s marquee player Romanian star Adrian Mutu said the team is gelling well.
“The team’s gelling well and the coach and the support staff is ensuring that the team comes back to Pune with top notch fitness levels,” said Mutu.
The squad will train in Antalya until September 10 and will return to Pune for the final phase of training.
Pune face Mumbai FC in a home match at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium on October 5.
