Kolkata, September 19 If everything goes to plans, Andrei Arshavin and his club Zenit St-Petersburg would be seen in action in Kolkata. It is learnt that the state sports ministry is planning to organise a mega football event in the city in January. Along with Zenit St-Petersburg, a top club from Turkey is also expected to play.
The three city giants — Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting and an outstation I-League side will make the list in this proposed six-team tournament. The tournament will be named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and is likely to start on January 23, Netaji’s birthday.
The 27-year-old Arshavin was the undoubted star of Russia’s march to the Euro 2008 semifinal. Earlier, he helped his club to first Russian Premier-Liga title last year. He is also Russia’s first ambassador for the Fifa SOS Children’s Village Charity Project for child orphans.
The state sports minister Subhas Chakraborty plans to organise the tournament after the first phase of the I-League. There would be a few days’ gap before the second phase starts. If the plan materialises, the city will once again witness top quality soccer action.
Kolkata’s tryst with top class football stars is few and far between. Pele came here in 1977. Then Roger Milla of Cameroon paid a visit in 1990. Last in the list was Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn who played his farewell match against Mohun Bagan last May.
The three city giants — Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting and an outstation I-League side will make the list in this proposed six-team tournament. The tournament will be named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and is likely to start on January 23, Netaji’s birthday.
The 27-year-old Arshavin was the undoubted star of Russia’s march to the Euro 2008 semifinal. Earlier, he helped his club to first Russian Premier-Liga title last year. He is also Russia’s first ambassador for the Fifa SOS Children’s Village Charity Project for child orphans.
The state sports minister Subhas Chakraborty plans to organise the tournament after the first phase of the I-League. There would be a few days’ gap before the second phase starts. If the plan materialises, the city will once again witness top quality soccer action.
Kolkata’s tryst with top class football stars is few and far between. Pele came here in 1977. Then Roger Milla of Cameroon paid a visit in 1990. Last in the list was Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn who played his farewell match against Mohun Bagan last May.
