• Home
• /
• Football

Top stars to play in Laureus Football Challenge

ABU DHABI - A glittering collection of football stars are to play in the first ever Laureus Football Challenge as part of the 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi, a press release said.

Presented by Laureus Global Partner IWC Schaffhausen, the Laureus Football Challenge will take place on Monday, February 7, just hours before the Laureus Awards Ceremony, at the Emirates Palace Hotel, and will feature some of the most celebrated football names in Europe.

Among the players in action will be: Vitor Baia (Portugal, Goalkeeper); Thomas Berthold (Germany, Defender); Ronald de Boer (Netherlands, Midfielder); Fernando Couto (Portugal, Defender); Edgar Davids (Holland, Midfield); Marcel Desailly (France, Defender); Ivan Helguera (Spain, Defender); Steve McManaman (England, Winger); Pauleta (Portugal, Striker); Lucas Radebe (South Africa, Defender); Manuel Sanchis (Spain, Defender); Dwight Yorke (Trinidad & Tobago, Striker); Mohammed Abdullaziz Al Deayea (Saudi Arabia, Goalkeeper) and Baichung Bhutia (India, Striker).

The Laureus Football Challenge will be a prestige seven-a-side match of two halves of 30 minutes each, played between two squads selected from these incredible world class footballers. On the sidelines giving their support will be Laureus World Sports Academy Members and football legends Franz Beckenbauer and Bobby Charlton, who famously played against each other in the England v West Germany 1966 World Cup Final.

Later in the day, the 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards will be presented at a televised Awards Ceremony at the Emirates Palace Hotel.