December 1, is a day set aside globally to mark World AIDS Day. This year’s edition will witness ex-Nigerian football stars and entertainment stars play a novelty match aimed at drawing attention to, and identify with People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Nigeria.
Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, Celestine Babayaro, Daniel “Da Bull” Amokachi, Tijani Babaginda, Taribo West and Tony Bafo (Ghana) are some of the players confirmed to file out as Team Eagles.
While Team celebrities include MI, 9ice, Segun Arinze, Gordons, Afeez Ayetoro (Saka), Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) Wande Coal, ID Cabasa, Nonso Diobi, among others.
One time Eagles goalie, Emmanuel Babayaro, in conjunction with Friends Africa, a non-profit organisation, is putting the event together to, according to Arinze, “move away from paying lip-service to issues of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.”
At a briefing on Monday in Lagos, attended by Charles Novia, Kingsley Ogoro, Segun Arinze and Dr. Akudo Ikemba, CEO/Founder of Friends Africa, Celestine Babayaro said the only stars that will shine on the match day are those discriminated against because of their HIV status.
The novelty soccer match is billed to take place at the Campos mini-Stadium, Lagos Island.
