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All-star lineup for David Bechham football match in aid of UN agency

Xinhua, October 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

An all-star lineup of football legends was announced to play at the David Beckham Match for Children in aid of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) at Old Trafford, the United Kingdom, a UN spokesman told reporters here Friday.

"Some of the biggest names in football will come together for the one-off match on Saturday 14 November 2015 to raise awareness and funds for UNICEF's work for the world's most vulnerable children," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

The Great Britain and Ireland team will be captained by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham and managed by fellow UNICEF UK Ambassador Sir Alex Ferguson. A galaxy of football stars on the team will include Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Phil Neville, according to the spokesman.

The Rest of the World XI, led by Zinedine Zidane and managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will also field some of the best players to have graced the game from European Champions to World Cup winners.

"Money raised through profits from ticket sales and donations made on match day will go to UNICEF's work providing lifesaving care including protection, health and nutrition for some of the world's most vulnerable children," said the spokesman.

Over the past decade, Beckham has helped UNICEF promote and protect the rights of children. He has raised global awareness of the dangers children are facing around the world, including malnutrition, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, violence and the devastating effects of natural disasters.

He has travelled to see UNICEF's work, meeting children and their families in Sierra Leone, South Africa, Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia. In September 2015, he joined UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake to unveil a digital installation that brought the voices of children and young people to the heart of the United Nations General Assembly. Endit