20 players confirm participation in UEFA Match Against Poverty

PanARMENIAN.Net - Nearly 20 players have already confirmed their participation in the tenth edition of the UEFA-backed Match Against Poverty at the Grкmio Arena in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on December 19.

As goodwill ambassadors of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), two superstars from the game's recent history, Ronaldo and Zinйdine Zidane, will each choose and lead a team to compete against the other.

Ronaldo's XI already includes plenty of Brazilian talent past and present: current internationals Neymar and Lucas Moura will line up alongside Romбrio, Bebeto, Denнlson, Juliano Belletti, Serginho and Roque Jъnior. Meanwhile Christian Vieri, Santiago Solari, Deco, Pedro Pauleta, Christian Karembeu, Mнchel Salgado and Hidetoshi Nakata are among other former players to have signed up. More internationally renowned names are expected to confirm their attendance in the coming weeks.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, FIFA World Cup-winning manager with Brazil in 2002, and Mano Menezes, present boss of the Brazilian national side, will be the team coaches. Pierluigi Collina, who has taken charge of eight of the nine Matches Against Poverty held so far, will again be the referee.

The match in Porto Alegre follows the example of the last nine editions, in which the funds raised support specific projects in different countries that are facing difficult challenges, UEFA official website reported.