Officials from Auckland City FC have announced that they will be strengthening their international partnerships with clubs such as Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
Auckland City FC's Asian Affairs Officer Andy Zhang recently returned to New Zealand from China. He was previously in China where he met with club officials from Shanghai Shenhua, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Beijing Guoan.
Auckland City FC chairman Ivan Vuksic said there was a need to develop relationships with overseas clubs in an ever-changing world. "Taking the opportunity to develop the Sister Cities, we are looking at the possibility of working with Shanghai Shenhua FC, including a friendly later this year or a pre-season match in 2024."
"The meeting in China was very valuable. We are happy to move forward in a realistic and pragmatic way to enhance our club's reputation overseas and that of any potential partners.
Sun Xiaotian, General Manager of Shenhua FC, happily received the representatives of Auckland City FC. They discussed topics related to friendly matches, youth training exchanges or future tournaments.
Representatives of the Auckland club also met with the sporting director of Tianjin Jinmen Tigers. The opponents were happy that Zhou Tong is now playing soccer for such an ambitious club as Auckland.
In addition, the meeting between Oakland City FC and the Assistant General Manager of Beijing Guoan FC was also very productive, with both sides exchanging operational experiences in business activities, ticket sales and additional services for sponsors and fans.
