Leicester City chairman in attendance for 'even more special' fixture

Leicester City chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha is looking forward to a special occasion in Belgium on Saturday as the two King Power clubs meet in a pre-season friendly.

City flew to Belgium from their pre-season camp in Evian, France, on Friday ready to face sister club OH Leuven in their second fixture of the summer as they gear up for the new Premier League campaign. After a side packed with youth players featured against Notts County last weekend, it will be the first chance for many of the City stars to get game-time, with the fixture to be played over 120 minutes in order to get as many players onto the pitch. For Leuven, it will be there final game before the Belgian top flight begins next weekend.

But while it may be a friendly, the match means more to Top, who will be in attendance. While the clubs have played each other behind closed doors before, they have never faced off in public. The chairman believes it well help solidify the bond between the clubs.

He said in a blog on Leuven’s website: “It has been a long time since I was able to experience a match with the supporters in the King Power at Den Dreef Stadium. I am very much looking forward to coming to Leuven again and meeting you. I've missed the city, I've missed the stadium, and most of all, I've missed the excitement and activity around a match.

“The game is even more special for me because the two teams of the King Power family, OH Leuven and Leicester City FC, will be playing against each other for the first time in Leuven. A great moment to celebrate the 20th anniversary of OH Leuven.

“It may be the first time that both teams have met in Leuven, but both clubs have built up a wonderful working relationship in recent years. Opportunities