Laureus All Stars v Real Madrid Legends set to kick off
A star-studded line-up of world class footballers will be taking part in the inaugural Laureus #KickOffForGood charity match between a Laureus All Stars side and a team of Real Madrid Legends next month.
Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Dutch stars Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Edwin van der Sar, plus Luis Figo, one of Real Madrid’s greatest players, are all confirmed to play in the match at the AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar, on September 5.
Luis Figo and Edwin van der Sar are both Ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Football fans will have to wait and see over the coming weeks which other legendary names are announced for what promises to be one of the football occasions of the year.
An initiative of the Laureus Foundation The Netherlands, the match will see some old footballing battles revisited, but on this occasion it will all be to raise funds to help young people in various Laureus Sport for Good projects around the Netherlands.
Dutch football icon and former Real Madrid player Clarence Seedorf, now a board member of Laureus The Netherlands, said: “I urge fans far and wide to come join us for an action-packed match which will also give a unique opportunity to make a difference. Through funds raised in the Laureus #KickOffForGood match, we, as Laureus, will be able to ensure that we reach even more young people in the Netherlands.”
Edwin Moses, Chairman of the global Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, said:
“This is the perfect example of Laureus at work, using the power of sport directly to help young people. This is going to be a terrific occasion and a great match. You are going to have some of the most famous players in the world on the pitch. I would like to thank Clarence and all the guys for volunteering their time to play in the match and make such a personal commitment to the work of Laureus in the Netherlands.”
The Laureus Foundation The Netherlands is part of the global Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which has raised €85 million since its inception to support projects which have helped to improve the lives of millions of young people. Currently Laureus supports more than 150 projects in 35 countries, including three in the Netherlands.
The Dutch projects in Almere, Amsterdam and Gouda provide coaching and education to young people in some of the most challenging and deprived environments, using sport to encourage social inclusion.
Clarence Seedorf said: “Nelson Mandela has shown how sport is the way to unite people and how its power can be used for social change. My wish is to give the youth everywhere in the world the possibility to develop their life skills through sport and gain the values that sport teaches - values like team spirit, hard work, respect, discipline, resilience and focus. Through sport we can ensure that youth have these values instilled in them, giving them a better chance of achieving greatness, whether in sport or life in general.”
