FIFA LEGEND vs INDIAN LEGEND EXHIBITION MATCH
Date: 6th September 2017
Venue: D Y Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Description: As part of the lead-up to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, India will see football legends like Carlos Valderrama, Fernando Morientes, Marcel Desailly, Jorge Campos and Emmanuel Amuneke playing an exhibition match against Indian legends on September 6th 2017 to mark “30 days to go” until the start of the first FIFA tournament in the country. This is also a part of the unique programme ‘Trophy Experience’ happening across 6 cities in India that will host the matches. The exhibition match will be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
An iconic star of Colombian and South American football, Carlos Valderrama played in three editions of the FIFA World Cup in a decorated career spanning more than two decades. Fernando Morientes featured in two editions of the FIFA World Cup for Spain and is fondly remembered for his three UEFA Champions League trophies with Real Madrid. Marcel Desailly was part of the French side that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and went on to captain Les Bleus to two FIFA Confederations Cup titles in 2001 and 2003. Striker-turned-goalkeeper Jorge Campos revolutionised the art of goalkeeping and was Mexico’s undisputed first-choice custodian in successive editions of the FIFA World Cup. A former Nigeria international who played at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and won Olympic gold in 1996, Emmanuel Amuneke has embarked upon a successful coaching career that saw him lead the Golden Eaglets to glory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2015 in Chile.[Source: Official website of FIFA]
These stars of world football will play against a mixed-gender Indian team comprising the likes of former Indian men’s team captain Renedy Singh and legendary women footballer Bembem Devi. The current Indian women’s team captain Bala Devi will also be a part of the mixed gender team. Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia was to be part of the team but he will not be able to take part in the exhibition match due to a back problem.
The match will be a shortened version as there will be two halves of 10 minutes each.
