May 30, 2006

Ethiopia, Italy to hold charity football game

A charity football game will be held this coming Thursday between former Italian master national team players and Ethiopian national team in Addis Ababa stadium.

The objectives of the game are to raise funds for poor children, women and elderly people in Ethiopia as well as to strengthen the friendship and solidarity of the two countries, organizers said.

At a joint press conference on Tuesday, the two sides said the game aims at promoting the tourist attractions of Ethiopia to the outside world.

Ethiopia's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mohamoud Dirir on the occasion said the former Italian soccer team has paid a visit to the Lalibela rock-hewn churches and will visit the Rift Valley areas of the country which, he said, will have paramount importance in promoting the historical sites of the country.

It was indicated that the game and the visit of the Italian soccer team members will be covered by renowned international media outlets, such as RAI, DSTV.

The Italian soccer team comprises famous footballers, such as the top scorer of the 1982 World Cup Paolo Rossi as well as Toto Schillaci and Nicola Berti, among others.

Mohamoud said the fact that the media coverage will portray the visit of these players and personalities will undoubtedly contribute towards the promotion of Ethiopian tourist attractions.

Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia Raffaele de Lutio said the game is organized by members of the Italian community in Ethiopia, adding that the game will consolidate Ethio-Italian solidarity and cooperations through football and sports.

Members of the team said they have played similar game in Yemen, which they said, have been attended by 20,000 spectators, adding that they are expecting over 25,000 spectators to attend the game in Ethiopia.

The players said the winner of the game will be the friendship that will be consolidated between Ethiopia and Italy and the humanitarian objectives associated with the game.

Source: Xinhua