IndiaPost.com - Bhutia excited to play with Drogba, Gerrard

NEW DELHI: Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia is all geared up to play along with the likes of Didier Drogba, Kaka and Steven Gerrard in the international exhibition match on July 12 in Munich to raise funds for African children.

Baichung will play in the Goal 4 Africa match, to be kicked off by football legends Pele and Michael Platini, on the invitation of Goal 4 Africa ambassador and Dutch star Clearance Seedorf in the unique event inspired by Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela's dream of "Education for all-all for education". "I am honored to be invited for the match.

It is also an honor for the country. I am looking forward to play in the match," Baichung said after Indian team's workout during the ongoing camp for the AFC Challenge Cup. "I gather that Gerrard and Drongba will play there, but for the rest of the international players, I will be able to know later when the match nears," he said.

The match, which aims to raise 90 million Euros, will be held around Mandela's 90th birthday, which falls on July 18. Baichung will leave Portugal for Germany on July 10 to play the match and will return home along with the team.

Celebrities from other walks of life, world leaders and corporate CEOs will play along with a galaxy of football stars like Kaka, Gerrard, Buffon, van Nistelroy, Michael Essien, Gattusso, Sergio Ramos and Emanuel Adebayor.

The 'Goal 4 Africa' global foundation works on the motto: donate an amount every time a goal is scored, be it in an amateur competition in your neighborhood or at the international level.