FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN is set to host a mega charity football match early next year featuring some of the greatest legends in world football, it was announced yesterday.
The game, entitled ‘Unity Kickoff – Play for a Cause’, is being organised by Dallah Promotions, in collaboration with the Bahrain Football Association (BFA), the General Sports Authority (GSA), and the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF).
It will be held on January 31 at the National Stadium in Riffa, and will take place under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, GSA chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Shaikh Khalid has expressed his pride in the kingdom’s role in hosting such meaningful initiatives, which align with Bahrain’s dedication to promoting youth and sports, as well as fostering a spirit of charity and goodwill.
Fifa World Cup winner and Brazil and Real Madrid icon Roberto Carlos, along with former England and Chelsea captain John Terry, are just two of the massive names confirmed to be taking part in the event.
This was revealed yesterday at a Press conference held at the National Stadium in Riffa, attended by BFA president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, RHF secretary general Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, GSA CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, BFA secretary general Rashed Al Zaabi, and Dallah Promotions owners Khalid Bukhari, Salman Bukhari, and Saud Bukhari.
An agreement was signed between the BFA, RHF, and Dallah to hold the event.
More than a dozen football superstars are being approached to take part, some of whom include Brazilian legends Kaka, Rivaldo, and Cafu; and Italian greats Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon. The charity match will also feature popular YouTubers, social media influencers, and renowned celebrities, making for a star-studded occasion.
The final list of participants, along with details on local and global ticket sales, ticket prices, and where they can be purchased, will be announced in due course. More information can also be found on the ‘Unity Kickoff – Play for a Cause’ Instagram page @unitykickoff.
All proceeds raised from the match will be donated to the RHF to support initiatives aimed at improving education and fighting poverty and hunger in rural countries, reinforcing the kingdom’s commitment to global humanitarian causes.
“Such events show how football is influential and uniting,” Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed told the GDN. “This is an opportunity, under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Khalid, to host such an occasion with a private company or a local organisation like the Royal Humanitarian Foundation.
“We are very excited about it. It is a chance to showcase football not only as a sport, but also as a way to get people to participate, enjoy seeing the celebrities, and have fun. That is the objective – to bring people together, with big names to make it more attractive and with a humanitarian cause.
“Hosting the match at the National Stadium, we hope to fill it up as much as we can. We are here to make it a very successful event, and hopefully more will be coming in the future.”
Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Mohammed added: “These events have a significant impact on the implementation of the initiatives and projects that the RHF is working on, as they contribute to the provision of necessary care for orphans, widows, and underprivileged families.
“They also highlight the humanitarian work carried out by the RHF, which encourages other society organisations to support and pay attention to similar humanitarian efforts.
“The big names in the football world will help to shed light on the humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the RHF inside the Kingdom of Bahrain and also in countries around the world.
“RHF takes pride in having these prominent football figures participate in charitable work that benefits orphans, emphasising that ‘giving’ does not differentiate between gender, religion, race, or colour.”
Organisers are hoping to illuminate the positive impact sport can have on society. The match is expected to attract senior officials, ambassadors, and foreign dignitaries, making it a highlight on Bahrain’s sporting and social calendar.
“This charity match came about when we were thinking of what we can do to benefit Bahrain’s economy, tourism, and enhance its place on the world map,” Dallah’s Khalid Bukhari told the GDN.
“It took us six to seven months to get it all organised. It will be happening on January 31, and we are very happy about that.”
Bukhari expressed his excitement in having some of football’s biggest names hitting the pitch for the charity match.
“Football is the biggest sport there is in the world,” he said. “You have fans from the age of three all the way to 80 or 90 – a fan of football is always going to be a fan of football.
“Bringing these legends to Bahrain is something huge. Even a child today would know who Roberto Carlos is, Kaka, Buffon. If you love the team, you love the player; and if you love the player, you love the team. Whether it’s now or before, you always remember these names because they are legends, and they will always be legends.”
Bukhari expressed his delight in highlighting everything Bahrain has to offer when Dallah approaches international celebrities – be it in sport or elsewhere – for the events they put together.
“Whenever we talk to a big name, we tell them how hospitable Bahrain is and how amazing this country is,” he said. “It’s a beautiful little island, everybody hears about it and wants to come here, and we sell them the point of come and relax, enjoy, and have fun – basically like a staycation.
“Whoever we bring to Bahrain always loves the idea, and hopefully this event is going to be even better than all the other events we have done.”
Bukhari stressed on the importance of making a positive social impact through the donation of all proceeds from the match to charity. “One of the most important things we are doing is involving the RHF,” he said. “We’re not looking to make a profit out of this; we want to give to children and orphans all around the world. That is our main focus.
“Whether it’s a sponsor, a ticket sale, or any money that comes in, it will all be going towards the RHF. Every single year, Dallah does a charity event, and this time, we are going really big!”
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))