Essien to stage another “Africa 11 vrs World 11” charity game in Ghana

Ghanaian international, Michael Essien has confirmed he will organise a charity football match between Africa 11 and World 11 in Accra June 8, 2013.

The Real Madrid midfielder has dubbed the charity game “Essien Game of Hope” and it will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana.

In 2011, Essien as Peace Ambassador of the African Union organised a similar match which was christened ‘Peace Game’.

“This year it will be the ‘Essien Game of Hope’ as he looks to raise funds for five charities (to be selected) in Ghana,” the midfielder’s official website said January 4, 2012.

”I am excited about the latest chapter in the work of the Michael Essien Foundation. We have decided to organise another Africa 11 v World 11 game in Accra on the 8th of June 2013 and this time we are calling it the ‘Game of Hope’ because I have always aimed to provide Hope and Inspiration to ordinary people so they can make the most of their lives,” Michael Essien said.

He explains ”Our aim is to bring world stars (past and present) to Accra just as we did in 2011 and to hopefully use the game to raise enough funds for those in need. The Peace game was mainly to spread the peace message but the Game of Hope will be used to raise funds for the needy in our society.”

Essien hoped that Ghanaians will turn out in their numbers to “support us again just as they did in 2011. We are lining up some big names and I am confident we can get them all back to Ghana again”.

Organisers of the event indicated that the players will be flown to Accra on a private plane a day before the match.

By Ekow Quandzie