Arsenal and Nigeria legend Nwankwo Kanu has announced a one-off legends game for charity, with Sol Campbell, Lauren and Robert Pirès among the first wave of ex-pros to be confirmed for the star-studded match.
The Petrolex Kanu Cup in association with Masters FootballTM aims to raise money for the Kanu Heart Foundation and provide children in Africa with life-saving heart operations.
The charity game scheduled to hold on Sunday 30th September 2018 at The Hive Stadium in Barnet, will attract more football stars, with the stage set for fans to see legends who played alongside and against Kanu lace up their boots again.
The game will be organised to raise money to build a new Cardiac Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, and reduce costly travel and accommodation fees for sick children and their families. The match also seeks to improve awareness of heart diseases in Africa through education and vital research.
Kanu said, “Since retiring from football, the Kanu Heart Foundation has been my biggest passion. It is amazing to be in a position to have helped over 500 children within and outside Nigeria gain access to vital heart operations, having suffered from heart conditions myself – but I want to do more.
“The Petrolex Kanu Cup in association with Masters FootballTM is an opportunity to bring people together to see some amazing players – and my great friends – play the beautiful game once more, whilst also raising money for a good cause. I cannot wait to share the full teams and for the game to kick off!”
FIFA Corruption: Ex-Brazilian soccer boss jailed 4 years in U.S. Prison
A former President of Brazil’s Soccer Federation was sentenced on Wednesday by a U.S. judge to four years in prison after being convicted on corruption charges related to the bribery scandal at FIFA, the sport’s governing body.
Jose Maria Marin, 86, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge, Pamela Chen, in Brooklyn, New York.
He was also fined $1.2 million and ordered to forfeit $3.34 million.
Mr. Marin, the former head of Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), was convicted on Dec. 22 by a federal jury on six conspiracy counts, including to commit racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.
He was among the first to stand trial over what U.S. prosecutors called a sprawling scheme involving payments of more than $200 million of bribes and kickbacks in exchange for marketing and broadcast rights for soccer matches.
Prosecutors said Mr. Marin received several million dollars in bribes.
“We are disappointed in the length of the sentence but appreciate the judge’s efforts to strike a fair balance.
“Mr Marin will pursue an appeal,” Marin’s lawyer, Charles Stillman, said in an email.
Prosecutors had sought a minimum 10-year prison term, less 13 months than Mr. Marin has already spent in custody.
Defence lawyers said Mr. Marin’s age and health meant he should be sentenced to time served, court papers showed.
At least 42 individuals and entities have been charged in the FIFA probe and many have pleaded guilty.
Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, a former head of South America’s soccer governing body CONMEBOL, was a co-defendant at Marin’s trial and was also convicted.
His sentencing is scheduled for Augst 29, court records showed.
The third defendant at the trial, former Peruvian soccer official, Manuel Burga, was acquitted.
