Johor Southern Tigers will be Rangers’ next opponent at the pre-season training camp in Spain.
It is a name most will be unfamiliar with, but the Malaysian club are one of several that are based in the Alicante area for training, like Rangers, and that was one of the attractions for ditching the Austria location that was initially pencilled in under Danny Rohl.
Since last Friday, Derek McInnes has drilled the squad at the Camilo Cano Sports City complex, situated at La Nucia in Alicante Province.
The plan was to fit in a couple of practice games as part of the camp, even if the fans have been disappointed at the ‘behind closed doors’ status.
The first game was a 1-1 draw against South African side Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, and now Johor Southern Tigers will be the opponents on Thursday.
The latest game was revealed on the Malaysian club’s social media on Monday.
Who are Johor Southern Tigers?
As detailed on the club’s official website, Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (Johor Southern Tigers), also simply known as JDT FC, is a football club based in Johor State, Malaysia.
The club currently plays in the top division, the Malaysia Super League, and is owned by HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Regent of Johor.
Since 2012, JDT have been known by the nickname Southern Tigers, based on the coat of arms of the Johor State Council.
Rangers’ remaining pre-season plan
The next fixture against the team from Malaysia is game practice.
Most players will get a run-out shortly before the squad returns to Glasgow.
Both games played in Spain have been top-ups for the significant physical exertion under Derek McInnes and his team.
Double sessions have been the norm, in order to get fitness and longevity into the players’ legs. That will be required for another demanding season that lies ahead.
What it does mean is that the upcoming fixtures against West Ham and Saint Etienne become more important.
They will be the only two pre-season games open to fans in a proper matchday environment, and given it’s just over two weeks until the Premiership curtain raiser at Tannadice, those fixtures will give an indication of what McInnes’ side will resemble in the City of Discovery on July 31.
