The Ministry of youth, Culture and Sport (Mijespoc) in conjunction with Lotto Rwanda are planning to host a contingent of European professional players mid next month, Times Sport has learnt. The Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Joseph Habineza said yesterday that the professional players are expected to arrive in the weekend of October 13 ahead a planned charity match to be played in the same weekend. Some of the players who have been contacted include: Togolese-born and Arsenal striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, Ivory Coast and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, Nigerian and Portsmouth striker Nkwanko Kanu, Ivorian and Racing Club de Lens striker, Aruna Dindane, Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o Fils as well as retired French playmakers, Zinedine Zidane and Bazil Boli. “We hope to invite a full squad and presently some few players have confirmed to come but we are still contacting other professional players to make the squad,” Minister Habineza revealed. He noted, “When here, those professionals will play in a charity match against either the national team or a select side from the top local clubs in the country.” The youthful minister emphasized that the visit by the African and French stars is aimed at boosting the Rwandan football to a more standard level as well as improving the country’s bilateral relationship with their respective countries of origin. Habineza added that the final squad of players who will make the Rwanda trip will be availed to the media on October 1. Lotto Rwanda which is one of the leading sports companies in the country and one of the group that is behind the players’ invitation in the country said that they can’t reveal anything presently when some of the targeted players have not been contacted. Lotto Rwanda Managing Director, Philip Brizilia said on Monday that the process of inviting players is still in its infancy stage thus opting to release the whole details once the players have confirmed their willingness and desire to come to Rwanda. “We were planning to invite Europe-based professional players to come to Rwanda and feature in a charity match but this will be possible if they respond positively towards our invitation,” Brizilia said. Ends
