Marcel Desaily takes part in FIFA legend game

By James K. Attaglo Wilson| info@sports24ghana.com

Ghanaian born French central defender Marcel Desaily was part of the football legends who took part in an exhibition game at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium to mark the one to the start of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

The FIFA Legends took on a team containing the Arjuna Award winner [Oinam Bembem Devi], Indian women’s national team captain [Ngangom Bala Devi], two kids from Mission XI Million [the legacy programme for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017], Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise Babul Supriyo and Bollywood film-maker [Shoojit Sircar].

The FIFA legends team included Carlos Valderrama [Columbia], Fernando Morientes [Spain], Marcel Desaily [France], Jorge Campos [Mexico] and Emmanuel Amuneke [Nigeria].

According to the former Chelsea defender [Marcel Desaily] the FIFA U-17 tournament is a huge opportunity for the youth of India to embrace.

“This is a huge opportunity for Indian kids to develop the game and hopefully see their national team taking to the international stage at youth level.”

The match ended 5-4 in favour of the FIFA Legends with Fernando Morientes scoring four goals, while Bala Devi [the standout performer for the Indian icons] scoring two goals and providing an assist.

The 2017 World Cup is India’s first-ever hosting of a FIFA tournament.

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