January 6, 2006
By Sipho Maduna
ELLIS Park Stadium is set for one of football's most memorable games as soccer legends from Africa and Europe go head-to-head on Saturday evening.
The Soccer Legends clash is a festival event held in aid of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. According to the fund's website, an R1-million donation has been guaranteed.
Ellis Park Stadium is the venue for the clash of the Soccer Legends
Kick-off is at 8.10pm.
The match is the first of its kind in South Africa, with soccer giants from two continents showing just what made them great.
Players included in both squads took part in Soccer World Cup tournaments in 1994 and 1998 - considered the most exciting in World Cup history. And each squad can boast a "World Player of the Year", with Ruud Gullit for Europe and George Weah for Africa.
The African Legends side will be led by Zambian international Kalusha Bwalya. Coach for the tournament is South African legend, Jomo Sono. Sono will not only be head coach but plans to showcase his football flair for 15 minutes before the end of the game.
South African legends in the squad are mid-field maestro Doctor Khumalo, South Africa's most capped player Lucas Radebe, defender Mark Fish and striker Philemon (Chippa) Masinga.
Besides Dutch international Gullit, Europe will be represented by Hristo Stoitchkov and Ian Rush. The squad will be captained by mid-fielder Aron Winter.
The African team is: Thomas Nkono, Zaki Badou, Tony Baffoe, Mark Fish, Augustine Eguavoen, Ibrahim Hassan, Mutubile Santos, Stefan Keshi, Anagasse, Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, Philemon Masinga, Yousaf Fofana, Stephen Tataw, Tony Yeboah, Daniel Omakachi, Rashidi Yekini, Abedi Pele, Roger Milla, Kalusha Bwalya, George Weah and Siasasa Sampson.
The European squad is: Bernard Lama, Pat Bonner, Hristo Stoitchkov, Iorden Letchkov, Emil Kostadinov, Paul Ince, Ramon Vega, Gica Popescu, Daniele Massaro, Roberto Di Matteo, Michael Laudrup, Brian Laudrup, Aron Winter, Ruud Gullit, Richard Witschge, Laurent Blanc, Josep Guardiola, Zeljko Petrovic, Ian Rush, Gerald Vannburg and Jan Heintze.
Tickets for the game are sold at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers outlets, with prices varying between R56 and R186.
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