International soccer legends headline bushfire charity match
FORMER Chelsea legend Didier Drogba will headline a Football for Fires charity match, at ANZ Stadium, that organisers hope will raise some $2 million to help rebuild football facilities lost in the bushfires.
Sydney FC's inaugural marquee, Dwight Yorke, will also return to Sydney for the game on May 23, along with international stars including David Trezeguet, Dario Simic, Emile Heskey and Claudio Marchisio.
The brainchild of agent Lou Sticca, the game will garner all proceeds from ticket sales, corporate support and merchandise sales for a fund dedicated to rebuilding grassroots facilities lost or damaged in the states affected by the bushfires.
Clubs including Celtic and New York Cosmos have already donated thousands of dollars to a parallel campaign raising funds for the Red Cross, which Sticca hopes will raise a further $1 million to aid the wider community in its rebuilding from the bushfires.
Domestic names to play at ANZ Stadium include Mark Bosnich, John Aloisi and Simon Colosimo, with more names to be added to the roster in the coming weeks.
"The Football For Fires match will harness the world game and its star players to draw attention to the Australian bushfire crisis and the crucial rebuilding of communities that will be required long after the fires have eventually burnt out," Sticca said.
"The images of these fires and the devastation they have caused to families, properties and our wildlife have touched so many people around the world and the international football family wants to help Australia."
French legend Trezeguet has been a regular visitor to Australia over the years.
He was part of the French team that played the Socceroos in a friendly match in 2001 and scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw.
He was back in Melbourne in 2016 as an ambassador for the International Champions Cup featuring his former Italian side Juventus.
Football for Fires fundraiser
May 23 at ANZ Stadium
Tickets: On sale Wednesday at Ticketek.
Players confirmed so far
Dwight Yorke - Manchester United, Aston Villa, Sydney FC
Claudio Marchisio - Juventus
Dario Simic - Inter Milan, AC Milan, Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco
Didier Drogba - Chelsea, Galatasaray, Montreal Impact
John Aloisi - Coventry City, Cremonese, Osasuna, Sydney FC
Dwayne De Rosario - Toronto, San Jose, New York Red Bull
Ji-Sung Park - Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven
Simon Colosimo - Carlton, Manchester City, Perth Glory, Sydney FC
Tore Andre Flo - Chelsea, Rangers, Sunderland, Leeds United
David Trezeguet - Monaco, Juventus, Riverplate
Alecko Eskandarian - DC United, Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, Chivas
Mark Bosnich - Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea
Con Boutsianis - South Melbourne, Heidelberg, Perth Glory
Pedro Mendes - Porto, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Rangers
Le Cong Vinh - Song Lam Nghe An, Consadole Sapporo
Stephen Appiah - Juventus, Fenerbache, Udinese, Vojvodina
Emile Heskey - Leicester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa
Michael Bridges - Sunderland, Leeds United, Newcastle Jets
Geremi - Real Madrid, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United
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