The Hindu : Sport / Football : Messi to visit Kolkata

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Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011
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Messi to visit Kolkata

KOLKATA: Celebrity Management Group (CMG), on Monday, announced that Argentina star player Lionel Messi will visit the city to play a friendly against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium on September 2.

The Argentine side will next travel to Bangladesh to play another ‘friendly' with Nigeria on September 6 at Dhaka. The organiser claimed that both the ‘friendlies' have received the approval of FIFA.

The Argentine football federation has also promised to bring its stars, Carlos Tevez, and Javier Mascherano, for the friendly.

The All India Football Federation and the Indian Football Association have agreed to extend ‘technical support' to ensure proper conduct of the match.

“It is, perhaps, the first occasion that such a top level international friendly will be played in the country,” said Subrato Dutta, the senior vice-president of AIFF, who was present during the announcement.

“Though it would not directly help in the development of Indian football, the event will definitely bring the country's name on the international map,” he added.

The West Bengal Sports Minister, Mr. Madan Mitra, said the government will renovate the Salt Lake Stadium. — Principal Correspondent

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