African stars line out for charity

African football stars including Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o will be among a star-studded lineout taking part in a charity match in aid of children from the continent here on May 13.

The game is being organised by Sevilla’s Malian striker Frederic Kanoute in conjunction with the United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

“The main aim is to obtain the funds to fight against infant mortality in Africa and work with Kanoute to develop the ‘children’s city’ in Bamako,” the club said in a statement.

Kanoute added: “My African friends and the best players from the continent will be present, like (Chelsea striker) Drogba, (Arsenal’s Togolese star Emmanuel) Adebayor, (Barcelona) Eto’o, (Chelsea’s Ghanaian midfielder Michael) Essien, everyone responded well, they wanted to come,” added the 2007 African Footballer of the Year.

The match will also pay tribute to Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta, who died last year at the age of 22 years after suffering a heart attack on the pitch.