Kaladze invited to play global football charity match

A high-ranking member of the Georgian Government and former football star has been invited to play in a world team football charity match.

Former Georgian football star and ex-captain of the national team Kakha Kaladze, who is now the country’s Vice Prime Minister and Energy Minister, was invited to play in a football team comprising of former top players from all over the world.

The world team will play against Kazakh team FC Kairat in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on September 26 to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the Kairat.

The Georgian Minister, who played for Dinamo Tbilisi, FC Diyamo Kyiv, AC Milan and Genoa CFC, responded to the invitation and said he would be "delighted” to play in the world team, this time as a Minister.

"As far as I know this will be a charity game. Of course I am delighted to be asked. I have already played in the world team once before and if I get chance to play again as a Minister, it will be very pleasant for me,” he said.

"I always try to make my contribution to charity. I have done everything and will do everything to put a small brick in place to help poor and diseased people,” Kaladze noted.

The world team, which has already been named, will see Kaladze join 17 others under the coaching expertise of Fabio Capello.

The world team is:

Goalkeepers - Francesco Toldo, Jens Lehmann.

Defenders – Paolo Maldini, Javier Zanetti, Alessandro Costacurta, Kakha Kaladze, Fabio Cannavaro, Christian Panucci.

Midfielders – Serginho, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Leonardo, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf.

Forwards – Andrey Shevchenko, Christian Vieri, Dwight Yorke.