Ronaldinho and Co set to enthrall fans in Karachi today

KARACHI: To believe it or not but it is going to happen. History is about to be made as the world’s mega football star Ronaldinho and his friends, also major world stars, would be seen in action in an exhibition match here at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium on today.

The 90-minute showpiece, also involving Pakistani players, would be played under floodlights. The schedule which this correspondent has intercepted shows that the seven-a-side show will begin at 8:40pm.

Ronaldinho and Friends arrived in Islamabad earlier today at around 5am from Dubai via special aircraft. After taking rest at the Serena Hotel in the federal capital the touring party would go to the GHQ in Rawalpindi at 12:30pm to meet the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Bullet proof transport would be provided by the military.

After meeting with the COAS, the touring party would then be brought to Karachi via special jet also to be provided by the military.

Ronaldinho would be accompanied by his 2002 World Cup winning squad member Roberto Carlos, former French midfielder Robert Pires, France’s Nicolas Anelka, Portugal’s Luis Boa Morte, Netherlands’ George Boateng, England’s former keeper David James and former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs who has replaced former England and Chelsea captain John Terry, who pulled out due to his professional commitments.

Renowned singers Ali Azmat and Momina Mustehsin will perform in the opening ceremony of the Karachi encounter.

Ronaldinho and Ryan Giggs will serve as captains of their respective teams. The stars would proceed to Lahore on Sunday (tomorrow) and play the second game at the Fortress Stadium at 4:30pm as no floodlights are installed at that venue.

July 10 has been set for visits of the touring footballers to the historical sites and places in Lahore before they depart for Dubai on July 11. World Group is undertaking the whole adventure. Meanwhile, Army has started taking control of the match venue here at the provincial metropolis.

Soldiers were seen both inside and outside of the venue on Friday. The facility was being washed and made ready for what could be an interesting meet, the first ever in Pakistan having such high profile footballers who ruled the world.

Besides taking control of the venue, the soldiers were also seen on key spots of the city frisking the suspicious people.

A source close to the development said that Army is extremely vigilant for the event as it believes that it is the most important event and its success would boost the country’s image.

As foreign cricket teams in particular have been refusing to tour Pakistan since the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore in March 2009, the visit of Ronaldinho and friends would place Pakistan in a much better position to convince foreign teams to visit the country without any fear as the condition has improved a great deal in the country.

Pakistani players who are part of the today’s match have already arrived in the city and have been boarded at the Avari Hotel. Their practice, scheduled at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium on Friday, was cancelled as the venue was being prepared for the major show, a player told this correspondent.

The organisers also distributed 1000 tickets free of cost among the players of around 135 registered clubs of Lyari, the hub of football.

Ronaldinho’s squad: Ronaldinho (captain), Roberto Carlos, Luis Boa Morte, Robert Pires, Yousuf Butt, Saddam Hussain, Kaleemullah, Sadullah; Ryan Giggs squad: Ryan Giggs (captain), Nicoklas Anelka, George Boateng, David James, Mohammad Rasool, Abdul Aziz, Mohammad Essa, Mohammad Razzik.