…with Okocha, Diouf, Gyan, Adebayo to face Chipolopolo legends
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
AFRICAN legends, Jay Jay Okocha, Alhaji Diouf and Ghana’s all-time top scorer Asamoah Gyan will lead a team of African legends that will face Chipolopolo legends in an intriguing exhibition match slated for November 4 at Lusaka’s Heroes Stadium.
The exhibition match organised by Kings of Africa aims at unifying people across borders through sport, Minister of Sports Youth and Arts Elvis Nkandu said.
The exhibition match has positive multiplier effects as business opportunities will be boosted in the hospitality industry, transport, general trading and tourism, thereby creating temporal and permanent jobs for all in the country, especially the youth, said Nkandu during the launch of the exhibition match at Heroes Stadium.
He said Government was working towards amplifying the economic contribution of sport through job creation especially amongst the youth and increase the income opportunities.
“I am proud that our own Chipolopolo legends will once again battle it out with our brothers from our motherland Africa. We once again look forward to having a wonderful time as we are accorded an opportunity to see our legends in action,” Nkandu said.
“I am also delighted to note that the organisation of the African legends exhibition match will be done using resources from various private entities, and not from government,” he said.
Nkandu urged the corporate world to consider partnering with the organisers in sponsoring the event, and use the platform to market their goods and services.
And Kings of Africa Sports spokesperson Lecille Wadee said the organisation was determined to host another successful exhibition match after hosting the Barcelona legends match last May.
Wadee noted that the opportunities that the Legends match will bring to the economy of Zambia is invaluable.
Meanwhile, Gyan, who was part of the Black Stars squad that lost to Zambia at the 2012 AFCON final said he was excited to participate and have fun in the legendary match against the Chipolopolo legends.
Gyan said the match which will unite legendary stars from across the continent was crucial as it will enable the players to share a joyful moment with Zambian football fans.
The former Black Stars international also took a jibe at the 2012 Chipolopolo squad that won the AFCON said they were lucky because they were helped by some spiritual forces in a country where the Zambian national team perished in the Gabon disaster crash.
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