NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies

Tampa Bay Rowdies Head to Portugal for Preseason Tour

Published on February 19, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 19, 2015) - The Tampa Bay Rowdies are going international. For the first time in modern club history, the team is headed overseas for preseason training to better prepare for the coming season. The team departs Thursday, February 26 for an 11-day trip to Portugal for exposure to the very best the sport of soccer has to offer.

"We have a squad of mostly new players and the trip to Portugal will give the team an opportunity to bond while testing ourselves against some very good teams," said Rowdies President & General Manager Farrukh Quraishi. "Being away also allows us to focus on the upcoming season with minimal distractions. Playing four quality games in a span of 10 days is pretty grueling and will be good preparation for the upcoming NASL season."

This trip will be essential for team bonding and chemistry, with 11 days of nonstop interaction between the technical staff and players to lay the groundwork for the 2015 NASL season. Tampa Bay is one of three NASL teams to train overseas this winter. The New York Cosmos are currently in Hong Kong to participate in the Lunar New Year Cup against the South China AA and Minnesota United FC is taking a trip to Brazil shortly after the Rowdies return from Portugal.

While in Portugal, the team will be based in the town of Rio Maior, 50 miles north of the capital city of Lisbon. Rio Maior is home to the Portuguese Olympic training center. The team will play four friendly matches against some of Portugal's top teams.

The Rowdies have a busy game schedule while overseas, beginning with a match against Fatima CD on Sunday, March 1. Fatima CD plays in the Campeonato Nacional de Seniores, Portugal's third division. The match will be played in Fatima, just north of Tampa Bay's Rio Maior base.

The team will be back on the field Tuesday, March 3 for a match against SL Benfica's Under-20 team. The team will primarily be U-20, but with senior players also available for selection. The match will be played in Lisbon at Benfica's academy. Benfica is the reigning 2013-2014 Portuguese (first division) Primeira Liga Champions and currently leads the 2014-2015 league.

The Rowdies will also play on Wednesday, March 4, lining up against Sporting CP's B Team. Commonly known as Sporting Lisbon, Sporting CP is one of Portugal's most successful teams, racking up 44 domestic titles. The match will be played in Lisbon at Sporting CP's academy.

Tampa Bay's final match in Portugal will be played on Friday, March 6 against Alcanenense at the Rowdies' base in Rio Maior. Alcanenense plays in the same division as Fatima CD.

All matches will be played at 10:30 a.m. local time, which is five hours ahead of Tampa Bay. Coach Thomas Rongen will mix lineups due to the short rest periods between games, but a projected "first team" will play together at least once. The travel roster has not yet been set.

While abroad, the Rowdies will be providing frequent updates for their fans on the club website as well as all social media channels. Follow the team on tour on social media using the hashtag #RowdiesInPortugal.

2015 Portugal Tour Match Schedule:

Sunday, March 1 vs. Fatima CD in Fatima (10:30 a.m. local, 5:30 a.m. Tampa Bay)

Tuesday, March 3 vs. SL Benfica U-20 Mixed in Lisbon (10:30 a.m. local, 5:30 a.m. Tampa Bay)

Wednesday, March 4 vs. Sporting CP B in Lisbon (10:30 a.m. local, 5:30 a.m. Tampa Bay)

Friday, March 6 vs. Alcanenense in Rio Maior (10:30 a.m. local, 5:30 a.m. Tampa Bay)

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North American Soccer League Stories from February 19, 2015


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