The visitors, who play in the top division in their homeland, have come to New Zealand to prepare for their domestic campaign and faced off last week in friendlies against ASB Premiership side Waitakere United and the national U-23 Olympic squad on the artifical turf at Bill McKinlay Park, losing both matches 5-0.
Despite the heavy nature of those defeats, Lossi will be a big test for Beachlands as the hosts play in the Auckland Football Federation (AFF) Championship, effectively the fourth tier of football in the wider Auckland region.
Beachlands player/coach and president Brian Preston says the chance to play the tourists, which came about via contact between the Lossi team liaison and the Auckland Council, was too good an offer to turn down.
“The game is a massive opportunity for us and we’ve grabbed it with both hands,” Preston says.
“We’re promoting it heavily amongst the locals. I think they were looking to play games at different levels, do some team building and see a bit of Auckland while they are here.”
Since the match was confirmed at the tail end of 2011, the Beachlands squad – which finished fourth in the 2011 Championship – has had time to prepare and has used it wisely.
“We spent four weeks training before Christmas and we’re training Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week,” Preston says.
“The team is excited. After watching them in their games against Waitakere and the Olympic squad, I think a couple of our younger players may be a bit nervous but the whole squad is buzzing.
“We can’t wait for the game.”
International friendly
Beachlands Maraetai (NZL) vs AS Lossi (NCL)
Saturday 14 January
Beachlands Domain
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 2pm
Story courtesy of Auckland Football Federation.
For more on Auckland football go to www.aucklandfootball.org.nz

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