Grozny, March 8 (Ukraine General News) – A number of prominent Russian football veterans will play against a team of former Brazilian football stars in a friendly match in Grozny on Tuesday.

“A number of prominent Russian footballers whose names are known to all of our football lovers have arrived in Grozny at my invitation. Vagiz Khidiyatullin, Ramiz Mamedov, and Vladimir Beschastnykh are already here, and [Kazan city sports committee chief] Ilgiz Fakhriyev has also arrived at my invitation,” head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov told journalists in Grozny.

“I am sure the match will help improve mutual understanding and unity among the peoples of Russia. It is in sports, culture, arts, and literature that we should show our best qualities. We need to come together and look for ways leading to our unity and to Russia’s greatness,” said Kadyrov, who will be playing as the captain of the ‘Russian’ team.

Kadyrov had also said earlier that the German football star of the 1980s-1990s Lothar Matthaeus would play on the ‘Russian’ side as well.

The team of Brazilian stars playing against the Kadyrov-led team includes Dunga, Rai, Romario, Bebeto, Cafu, Elber, Denilson and other prominent Brazilian football veterans.

“We will do all we can to turn this day into a feast for all Russian football lovers. I am sure it will be watched with great interest on the entire territory of our country,” Kadyrov said.

[UA EUROPE EEU EMRG RU SPO]

16:02:24 EET-2