There were stars, goals and goodwill aplenty at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint Etienne on Monday evening as it hosted the 12th Match Against Poverty, dedicated this year to the victims of the Ebola epidemic.
Organised every year since 2003 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), all with the support of FIFA and at the initiative of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, the gala match raises money for those who need it most.
Lining up against an all-star St Etienne XI, the two former Real Madrid legends teamed up with the likes of Eric Abidal, Fabien Barthez, Youri Djorkaeff, Gianluca Zambrotta, David Trezeguet and Jay-Jay Okocha.
“It means a lot to me,” the ex-Nigeria star told FIFA.com before the match. “It’s an opportunity for us footballers, who’ve been spoiled by life, to give something to the less privileged. It’s a wonderful initiative.”
The important thing is to be here and to continue with what was started 12 years ago, supporting a different cause every time.
In taking on the team of legends, France’s most successful club of all time called on some of their former idols, among them Pascal Feindouno, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dominique Rocheteau, Kurt Zouma, Alex and Julien Sable.
“It’s getting harder on the legs every year,” a smiling Zidane told FIFA.com. “The important thing is to be here and to continue with what was started 12 years ago, supporting a different cause every time. This year it’s the Ebola virus, which has been wreaking havoc in Africa.”
The Ebola outbreak has had disastrous effects for millions of the world’s most disadvantaged people. Nowhere has the economic and social impact of the epidemic been more devastating than in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where it will continue to be felt for many years after its eradication.
Back in November, FIFA initiated the “11 against Ebola” campaign, which featured Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Neymar Jr, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm among others, to promote 11 simple health messages selected with the help of doctors and health experts from Africa, the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization who are tackling the outbreak in West Africa.
“That’s the hardest thing,” added the former Bleus playmaker. “We have to make this a party and a good football match, while also getting the message across to everyone watching the game.”
Both those objectives were fulfilled in front of a noisy 33,913 crowd at the Geoffroy Guichard, which is known in French football as The Cauldron. The stadium bubbled with pleasure at the silky touches of Zidane and Okocha, while one-time France goalkeeper Barthez also entertained the fans by dashing out of the box on numerous occasions, and Ronaldo and Aubameyang helped themselves to hat-tricks.
In the end, the home side ran out 9-7 winners as the Match Against Poverty once again achieved its goals.
