NEWLY-promoted Frankwell will begin their pre-season build-up by competing in an invitational tournament in Shenzhen tomorrow - with the help of five foreign players from club rivals Rangers.
In a sporting gesture, Rangers have agreed to lend striker Gary Bannister, right winger Bobby Barnes, central defender Mark Blake, goalkeeper Mark Walton and defender Steve O'Shaughnessy for the one-day tournament.
Frankwell team manager Fung Siu-wai said: ''We're most grateful Rangers have given their consent to lend five of their foreign players to us because we would have been desperately under-strength.
''Our foreign players from Latvia arrive on Sunday but they won't have enough time to compete in the tournament.'' Frankwell are one of two Hong Kong First Division clubs who have recruited players from the old Soviet Union.
The Second Division champions have signed five Latvian players and a Russian. They have also signed three key local players.
Fung said: ''We had some trouble getting our foreign players cleared to play here for the season but thankfully that has been sorted out.'' Left back Ng Chun-chung from Instant-Dict, goalkeeper Yam Wai-hung from Kui Tan and former Ernest Borel player Chan Kwok-fai are three key local signings for Frankwell.
