FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN’S football fans were treated to a memorable match for a good cause last night, with teams skippered by legends John Terry and Roberto Carlos taking to the pitch.
Thousands flocked to the National Stadium in Riffa for the ‘Unity Kickoff – Play for a Cause’ charity game to watch some of football’s biggest retired superstars put on a show alongside a number of former Bahrain national team players and popular social media figures.
Team Terry and Team Carlos entertained to a 6-6 stalemate by the end of regular time, but then Team Terry won in the ensuing shootout 4-1, with former Ivorian star Yaya Toure firing in the clinching spot kick.
The exhibition contest was held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who was in attendance.
GSA vice-chairman Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and BOC vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa were also on hand, along with other high-ranking officials.
Shaikh Khalid presented both teams with their respective awards after the game.
The event was organised by Dallah Promotions in collaboration with the Bahrain Football Association, the GSA, and the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF).
Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic was in charge of Team Carlos.
Former England striker Michael Owen opened the scoring for Team Terry with a shot from close range, but then ex-France forward David Trezeguet levelled the score with an 11th minute volley off a cross from former Netherlands great Clarence Seedorf.
Trezeguet then gave Team Carlos the lead in the 18th minute but Terry equalised 11 minutes later with a lobbed shot from outside the box that flew over the head of ex-Bahrain international goalkeeper Ali Hasan.
Just two minutes later, social media star Jelani was on target to reclaim the advantage for Team Terry, and then Trezeguet completed his hat-trick in the 33rd minute off a Seedorf assist to tie it once more.
Goals from Jelani and Owen then put Team Terry in front 5-3 heading into the half-time break.
After the re-start, ex-Portugal superstar Luis Nani found the net with a brilliant 55th minute free-kick for Team Carlos. But Bahrain’s ex-international forward Hussain Ali then scored with a powerful strike from outside the box, off an assist from Terry, to make it 6-4.
Trezeguet registered his fourth of the night in the 76th minute to reduce the deficit to a single goal once again, and then Nani tied it at 6-6, finding the net from close range with two minutes to go in regular time from an acute angle, thus sending the clash into the penalty shootout.
Other football legends that were a part of last night’s exhibition were Marco Materazzi, Dimitar Berbatov, John Obi Mikel, Julio Cesar, Ali Al Habsi, and Bahrain’s Sayed Mahmood Jalal and Mohammed Hubail, to name a few.
BFA vice-president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa was also amongst those who took to the pitch in the match.
All proceeds raised from the game will be donated to the RHF to support initiatives aimed at improving education, alleviating poverty, and providing aid to orphans and underprivileged communities in Palestine, war-torn regions, and beyond.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))