Dalung hails Kanu’s charity match
The Nigerian Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has thrown his weight behind the Legends of Africa Charity/Peace football match to be held in Lagos later this month.
The charity match will bring African legends of football together under the auspices of Kanu Heart Foundation and Nelson Mandela Foundation.
According to a press release signed by Onyebuchi Abia, the minister applauded the efforts of the Kanu Heart Foundation and organisers of the charity match when he received Nwankwo Kanu and the secretary general of the Local Organising Committee of the charity match, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia in Lagos on Monday.
The minister who officially endorsed the legend game said the match and calibre of African legends coming will be a very big opportunity to reduce the xenophobic tension in Africa as well as impacting positively on our football.
He promised to use the goodwill of his office to mobile support for the game.
Responding Kanu thanked the minister, saying that the match is one way the Legends of Africa as a body, is also helping charities observing that the Kanu Heart Foundation and
Nelson Mandela Foundation will be beneficiaries of funds raised.
He also said African legends will use the game to make a statement on the need for unity and peaceful coexistence in Africa.
Meanwhile, not less than 46 African football legends have confirmed their participation in the event holding in Lagos on April 29 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Among the galaxy of stars will be two former world footballer of the year and European
Award winner George Weah of Liberia and Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew of Ghana.
Other expected legends include: Roger Milla (Cameroun), Patrick Mboma (Cameroun), Benny Mc Carthy (South Africa), Anthony Baffoe (Ghana), Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Austin Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria), Mark Fish (South Africa), Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun), El-hadji Diouf (Senegal), Samuel Kuffour (Ghana), Celestine Babayaro (Nigeria), Garba Lawal (Nigeria), Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria), Taribo West (Nigeria), Uche Okechukwu (Nigeria), Peter Rufai (Nigeria), Emmanuel Amuneke (Nigeria) and Samson Siasia (Nigeria) among others.
