World Soccer Icons Invited to Mandela's Birthday Bash

Soccer Players for the Soccer Match 89th Birthday Nelson Mandela and Ticket Information

Read more about what is lined up for Madiba's 90th Birthday celebrations in 2008.

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Invitations signed by the former president and FIFA president Sepp Blatter have been sent to famous soccer players such as Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.

An exhibition match between soccer players of an International XI and an Africa XI has been organised for Mandela's birthday on July 18.

Walter Gagg, Fifa's director of stadiums and security, is in charge of assembling the teams and their soccer players.

Achmat Dangor, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said the match will be played at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, with a ceremony on Robben Island. Dangor said: "We will make a formal announcement once the soccer players have responded to the letters of invitation. Fifa are handling the negotiations with the players and everything should be concluded this week."

Pekka Odriozola of the Fifa media department said: "As the players are currently being contacted, we cannot yet confirm who will participate. We will provide more information later this month."

Source: The Sunday Times

News: Famous soccer players Pelé, Eto’o, Gullit, Weah, Karembeu, Radebe are confirmed, other famous soccer players in match for Nelson Mandela's birthday will be announced when confirmation is received: soccer players Mandela birthday match

News: Rumours are soccer players Zinedi Zidane and Marco Matarazzi might be two of the players in the Nelson Mandela birthday soccer match. Algerian football star Rabah Madjer has also been invited.

Find more information on the event of the exhibition soccer match for Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday.

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Read more about what is lined up for Madiba's 90th Birthday celebrations in 2008.

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