With Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich setting the trend, multimillion-rand soccer takeovers are becoming something of a habit among Russians — and FC Moscow are not immune.
The Russian club, fresh from a recent takeover that is designed to lift them into the top echelon of European clubs, arrived in South Africa on Wednesday for a friendly fixture against Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off at 8pm).
The Russian season is in the midst of a mid-winter break and with Chiefs needing games to keep in shape while the PSL goes into hibernation during the African Nations Cup, a timely match-up between the clubs was negotiated during the recent International Football Expo in Dubai.
Indeed, a group of FC Moscow players has been in a training camp in Dubai for some time and with others joining the party from Russia, the South African-bound contingent arrived at Johannesburg International airport from the Middle East meeting point.
Intriguingly, included in the squad is former Chiefs and Bafana Bafana midfielder Stanton Fredericks, who is also hoping to recharge his future at the Russian club.
A borderline first-team player with FC Moscow, Fredericks is expected to be given the opportunity of displaying his wares against Amakhosi.
The Russian club plan to continue their mid-season training in Johannesburg and hope to arrange a second friendly against a top PSL club. — Sapa