Some of the world’s biggest football stars, past and present arrived in Accra yesterday for the Michael Essien Game of Hope Charity game.
Former Chelsea star Michael Ballack, as well as Florent Malouda, Marcello Vieira, JJ Okocha, Djibril Cisse, youngster Daniel Pappoe arrived in Accra on Friday evening via a chartered flight, to a rapturous welcome.
They were met on arrival at the airport by the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Joseph Yamin, officials of the Michael Essien Foundation including Akosua Puni, Mike Gizo, as well as officials from TECNO Ghana, a key sponsor of the event.
The World XI vs. Africa XI exhibition match seeks to raise funds to support Essien’s Foundation, MEF.
The Africa IV team will have in their fold Geremi Njitap, Stephen Appiah, Tony Yeboah, Nwankwo Kano, Samuel Osei Kuffour, George Weah, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure, Adebayor, Dede Ayew, Jay Jay Okocha and Richard Kingston.
The World IV team is ably represented by Kaka, Michael Ballack, Luca Modric, Florent Malouda, James Hubert Lawrence, David Ginola, Makalele, Quincy Abeyie, Scott Smith, Ricardo Cavalho, Mark Bright and David Ginola.