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Manuel Pellegrini to start Manchester City reign in South Africa

New manager begins with two-game tour of South Africa before games in Hong Kong, Germany and Finland

Jack de Menezes
Thursday 20 June 2013 17:28 BST
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Manuel Pellegrini will start his Manchester City career in South Africa
Manuel Pellegrini will start his Manchester City career in South Africa

Manchester City have confirmed that new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s first game in charge will take place against Supersport United on a two-game tour of South Africa.

The match will take place in Pretoria on July 14, before heading to Durban to take on AmaZulu FC four days later as part of the Nelson Mandela Football Invitational.

Chief Executive Ferran Soriano said: “"As well as competing in two games we have chosen Durban as our base for our training camp.

"It is an exciting time for the club as Manuel Pellegrini takes charge of the team for the first time."

Pellegrini will take charge following his appointment last week, replacing former boss Roberto Mancini at the helm of the club.

Upon completion of their stay in South Africa, Pellegrini will then take his side to Hong Kong to face both Sunderland and Tottenham in the bi-annual Premier League Asia Trophy.

Following that, City will take on former striker Mario Balotelli when they meet AC Milan in the Audi Cup, which also contains Champions League winners Bayern Munich and Brazilian side Sao Paolo.

They finish their pre-season programme in Helsinki when they take on Premier League rivals Arsenal, in the first game to be held in Finland to feature two Premier League clubs.

The pre-season unusually gives Pellegrini a chance to square off against divisional opposition allowing him a chance to taste what life is like managing in the English top flight.

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