Denis Makes Durban Trip

Denis Irwin says there is a real air of excitement in the South African city of Durban ahead of United’s visit next month on pre-season tour.

Ahead of a meeting with Ajax Cape Town in Cape Town on 21 July, the Reds will take on AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 18 July, and after visiting Durban last weekend Irwin, who met South African president Jacob Zuma during his stay, insists there is a real buzz about the United’s upcoming trip.

“I know tickets for the game have sold well so far and that doesn’t surprise me,” the Reds' legend told ManUtd.com. “There are a lot of United fans over there and everyone is very excited about the club’s visit because they don’t get too many opportunities to see the team play live.”

Irwin was in town for ‘The MTN Supersport Shootout’ - South Africa’s premier celebrity golf event attended by top government officials, captains of industry and sporting legends. Held at the Zimbali Coastal Resort, the tournament also featured an appearance from President Zuma who was presented with a new United shirt by Irwin.

“It was great event and a real honour to meet President Zuma,” adds Denis. “It was very nice of MTN to invite me along but I must admit it was a pretty hard course and I won’t say too much about the score I posted apart from it was pretty poor!”

Irwin admits he doesn’t miss the rigours of pre-season although he is quick to point out that the process of getting fit for the new campaign has changed a great deal since his days as a Red.

New signings Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell are both expected to be included in the tour squad, who will also visit China during the trip, and Irwin says the experience will be an invaluable one for the Reds’ new recruits.

“It’s a great way of helping them settle in,” says the Treble winner. “Not only will they get to know their new team-mates, they’ll get to see how United do things – how we play and how we prepare for games.

"It’ll be different to what the new players have been used to, particularly someone like Kagawa who has come from Japan to Germany to here. So it’s an important time for new signings to bed in.”