The defending champions of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), Chennaiyin FC will begin their preparations for the upcoming 2018-19 season with a four-week long trip to Malaysia. The team will depart from Chennai on August 13 and will spend their pre-season camp at the training facilities of Sime Darby Football Club in Kuala Lumpur.

The Indian contingent of the club has already undergone their pre-season medical assessments along with head coach John Gregory. The foreign contingent, including new signing Andrea Orlandi, will join the travelling team directly at Malaysia.

However, some of the squad’s younger players including Anirudh Thapa, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Germanpreet Singh and Isaac Vanmalsawma will miss the tour owing to their commitments with the national team ahead of the SAFF Championship.

In their absence, six players from Chennaiyin FC’s B team will travel with the squad. They are Saurabh Meher, Ajin Tom, Hendry Antonay, Zonunmawia, Bibin Boban and winger Bedashwor Singh. John Gregory’s side will return from the tour on September 11, as they gear up to defend the title when the new Hero ISL season gets underway.