Audio By Carbonatix
Pope Francis is backing an interreligious soccer match that will gather greats from around the globe and is aimed at promoting peace and raising money for at-risk kids.
Former Argentina great Javier Zanetti, who spent 19 seasons with Inter before retiring, said the idea for the Sept. 1 match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome arose during an audience he had with Francis last year.
At a press conference Monday, Zanetti said: "The most important thing isn't the match, but the message of peace that the pope wants to give the world."
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will put together teams featuring Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist players. Among those who have signed up: Lionel Messi, Filippo Inzaghi, Samuel Eto'o.
Francis isn't expected to attend.
Latest Stories
-
GES denies cancellation of Free SHS, warns against GH¢1,500 ‘chop box’ payment
3 minutes -
Mortuaries and Funerals Agency to deploy ‘funeral police’ nationwide to prevent corpse abuse
13 minutes -
Aisha Hospital delivers first-ever IVF Baby, opens new dialysis centre in Northern region
29 minutes -
GoldBod leadership may face ‘scary’ bail conditions in the future – Afenyo-Markin warns
33 minutes -
British couple on honeymoon killed in helicopter crash on Greek island
42 minutes -
Man, 20, drowns while helping travellers cross Ghana-Togo border river
50 minutes -
Top 10 online bill payment platforms in Nigeria
55 minutes -
Fire destroys more than 27 wooden structures at Spintex Coastal junction
58 minutes -
GoldBod: Day of reckoning will come – Afenyo-Markin
1 hour -
In Photos: Defence Ministry welcomes Kenneth Gilbert Adjei as new Defence Minister
1 hour -
CSA fines EY Ghana GH¢360,000 for providing cybersecurity services without a licence
1 hour -
Bonsu Baah scores and assists in Al Qadsiah big win in Saudi King’s Cup
1 hour -
The Galamsey war and GWL’s fictitious and inaccurate rebuttal
2 hours -
Afenyo-Markin demands answers over alleged GH¢22bn GoldBod loss
2 hours -
GoldBod ‘Losses’: We’re not ignorant, we know our job – Afenyo-Markin
2 hours