Cafu, Pele, Maldini set to rock soccer-crazy Kolkata
The home of Indian football is gearing up for another fiesta when a galaxy of world stars, led by two-time World Cup winner Brazilian Cafu, will take on a dream Indian XI at the Salt Lake Stadium on January 23.
The home of Indian football is gearing up for another fiesta when a galaxy of world stars, led by two-time World Cup winner Brazilian Cafu, will take on a dream Indian XI at the Salt Lake Stadium on January 23.
More than three decades after he mesmerised the football-crazy crowd in an exhibition match for New York Cosmos, 71-year-old Brazilian legend Pele will also return to action in the city, as part of the Superstars XI.
The world team will also boast of another Brazilian star Ronaldo, the tournament organisers stated in a release on Tuesday.
Kolkata's football-crazy crowd will also get an opportunity to watch the member of 1998 World Cup winning France team, Marcel Desailly besides the likes of legendary Italian defender Paolo Maldini.
The coach of the team will be former Dutch superstar Ruud Gullit - the captain of the Euro '88 winning team.
The home side, selected by the Football Players' Association of India, will be led by the inspirational Bhaichung Bhutia and will also have another great forward I M Vijayan up front, the release added.
The Shyam Thapa-coached dream Indian XI also includes former Indian stars Carlton Chapman, Jo-Paul Ancheri and Bruno Coutinho.
The football superstars along with few Indian players will impart a two-hour training in the morning of the match day.
"The event is about promoting football in the country and giving young and upcoming players exposure to international football," it added.
The tickets for the 120,000 capacity stadium will be priced between Rs 300 and 500, the release said.
Way back on September 22, 1977, Pele fever had gripped the city as he drew more than 80,000 fans at Eden Gardens for an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan.
After Pele, Kolkata's tryst with the legends of the game has continued as it has hosted German World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus, legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, Argentine great Diego Maradona and the iconic Lionel Messi.
The organisers said further details of the match would be announced on January 6.
The Teams:
Superstars XI: Cafu (c), Pele, Regi Blinker, Ronaldo Lus Nazario de Lima, Marcel Desailly, Paolo Maldini, Denilson, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Angsker Birkman, Winston Bogarde, Christian Karaembu, Roland Kopp, Ronald De Boer, Marcel Oerlemans and Rene Higuita (goalkeeper); Coach: Ruud Gullit (coach).
Indian Dream XI: Bhaichung Bhutia, Renedy Singh, Bruno Coutinho, Calrton Chapman, I M Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri, Alvito D' Cunha, Dipendu Biswas, Basudeb Mondal, Godfrey Periera, Aqueel Ansari; Coach: Shyam Thapa.