Football legends Zidane, Ronaldo lead all-star Match against Poverty in Fez
2008-11-18
The Moroccan city of Fez hosted the sixth UNDP Match against Poverty on Monday, energising the city with the appearance of football stars Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo and their celebrity teams.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 18/11/08
 [Getty Images] Former French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane (right) and Brazilian star Ronaldo promoting the Match against Poverty in Fez on Monday. |
It was a star-studded day of friendly football on Monday (November 17th) in Fez, when dream teams led by international sensations Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo faced off in Fez for the Match against Poverty.
The match was the sixth in a series organised by the United Nations Development Programme to mobilise the public against poverty and promote the Millennium Development Goals, which seek to reduce global poverty by half by 2015. Ticket sales and other proceeds are distributed to UNDP projects in developing countries; last year's match in Malaga, Spain raised some 600,000 euros for the cause.
Zidane and Ronaldo, both serving as UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors, chose 40 of the best footballers from around the world, including local hero Nourredine Naybet, formerly of Deportivo de La Coruña and the Moroccan national team.
The teams offered a mix of retired and active players from leagues across the globe. Brazil's Marta Vieira da Silva, ranked best female soccer player in the world by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), also took part in the match.
The match was played in a wonderful atmosphere, with the players showing off their prodigious talents and skill. Zidane, still visibly in competitive shape, played especially well, though his team would ultimately lose the match five goals to six.
Weligton Robson of Malaga FC scored the match's opening goal after just three minutes, but SL Benfica striker Ariza Makukula equalised just seconds later. Bilbao forward Joseba Etxeberria tapped in the second goal for Zidane's team, but Makukula evened the score yet again.
RCD Mallorca's Juan Arango scored the third goal for Ronaldo's team in the 23rd minute, but Zidane answered with a goal of his own four minutes later. Teammate Etxeberria attempted to establish a lead with a fourth goal in the 33rd minute, but Brazilian star Caca tied it up again in the 59th minute. After that, Tariq added the fifth and sixth goals in the 69th and 74th minutes.
Retired Moroccan star Salaheddine Bassir scored the fifth goal for Zidane's team, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome of the match.
Zidane said after the match, "This is the first time that the match was played outside Europe. I feel greatly touched to be in Morocco, one of the countries of North Africa where I hail from. I'm very happy that the cause we are working for is taking on a great dimension. We are trying to send out an important message."
Ronaldo added that combating poverty on the world level is a noble mission that everyone should take part in.
"The match has a noble humanitarian goal, and was organised by world renowned football players from poor backgrounds," Moroccan international Mustapha El Haddaoui told Magharebia.
"I think local associations should follow in the footsteps of this initiative... by using Moroccan international players, both active and retired, during the breaks of their championships in order to raise money to fight poverty in Morocco," he said.
Yahya Saidi, President of the Fez-based Sanad Association for Social Development and Action, noted the importance of that initiative, saying the match was a tremendous source of pride for residents of Fez and all Moroccans.
Unfortunately the price of tickets – ranging from 50 to 1,000 dirhams – kept the match out of reach for many locals.
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hossain Posted 2008-11-19
I am Hossain. How are you Zidane and Ronaldo? How are you? I am from Tangier. What about you Ronaldo and Zidane? Where are you from?
emilia Posted 2008-11-19
This was great! I was there and Zizou was imperial! What a joy! It was a pleasure to see these two champions united for the same cause.
michel Obama Musyoka Posted 2008-11-20
The story of Zidane and Ronaldo was highly inspiring and I congratulate the author for a well reserched article,But next time give us the teams line-ups. Je suis Kenyan en fait.Aussi on veut une copie francaise, s'il vous plait. felicitations et que Dieu vous benise.
chama Posted 2008-11-22
We want you to present us topics about monuments of the city of Fes in fifteen minutes.
djaouti mohamed cherif Posted 2008-11-24
In the name of God and a thousand prayers and peace be upon His Prophet Mohammed. Islam is a complete religion and it is very restrictive with regards to certain aspects of humanity. Nowadays, we are trying to resolve problems such as poverty, economic inflation, AIDS and so on, just as we are trying to solve both wars and cold wars. This is why, 600 years after Jesus, through Mohamed (may prayers be upon Him), God told us to never lend money. On the contrary, interest is currently one of the bigger banks “solutions”. These banks need to forget their backseat approach and invest in what is good for all people. Zakat is a good solution for the hospitalisation of over 11,000 people a year in Algeria. Two people being connected by the sacred link of marriage is the only way for a Muslim to satisfy their nature and, of course, they should not in any case betray this. A Muslim economy does exist and our state should encourage it, increasing social loans to the working world; there should be no hidden money. As for wars, Muslims never commit crimes against humanity, and this is stated in the Holy Qu’ran. Muslim soldiers respond only to those who themselves constitute an army. Thank you, Zinedine Zidane. Thank you, Ronaldo! –Signed, the Messiah, the Saviour, the Messiah, the Messiah, Aissa
احلام Posted 2008-11-26
This site is dedicated to the Arab Maghreb. This corner is dedicated to the news of Algeria. But it is odd that the news of Zidane and Benzima are on this site. They are not Algerians. Those who wear French jerseys are Harkis, they represent the enemy of their motherland!!!!
Mourad NY Posted 2008-11-27
to احلام Posted 1 day ago You are an ignorant and a racist and you do not represent Algeria but more like someone who hates Algeria...easy to see who you are and where you come from...with such offensive and distorted comment... Do you know that a Harki is someone who betrayed his country by taking side with the enemy. Where on earth do you see a link with the Harkis and these two players?? To call these two football heroes and champs harkis is a proof that you are not an Algerian!!! Show me any Algerian who is not pride of these two great players.. This place is not for venomous reptile who try to display its hate..please get a life.. Vive Zizou and Benzima who brought happiness and hope to millions of people of all colors
Anonymous Posted 2008-11-30
we all know that poverty in arabian countries must be reduce,but the question is HOW?????? zizou gave us a hope that we are in his mind.
PhotoAyour Posted 2008-11-30
In reality, even if I do not follow football, I saw parts of the match. I liked the way of playing which was exhibiting. The problem is the news reported by Moroccan media after the match about Ronaldo who tried to take six girls with him to his hotel room forgetting that the first victims of poverty are women who practise prostitution for personal and objective reasons. Poverty and dignity are better for us than these activities which are organized for reasons different than the apparent ones. So stop such masquerades. But the oddest thing is that a Moroccan player, whom I respected before, interfered with the guards to allow Ronaldo to take in at least one girl. Sincerely yours. Lahoucine
احلام غليزان 48 Posted 2008-12-03
To Mourad NY. I am Ahlam, an Algerian to the bones. I am proud to be the daughter of a million and half a million martyrs. Long live Algeria. I am not ignorant. I am not racist. You should understand the meaning of Harki then come and insult me. I want to ask you one question: why do Zidane and Benzima not represent Algerians in spite of their origins? Why has Ziani refused the offer of France and accepted the offer of Algeria? Why has Benzima not shown that he is Algerian? And why was he proud of them? If you tell me Madjer, Belloumi or Assad, I will say yes. My brother Mourad, life has tempted you so much the son of my country. Algeria is great, this year our flag will go high. Do it again, repeat it Saadane, God willing we will qualify. In 90 we won the African Cup. All the country was happy. In 82, in the stadium of Jijoun in Spain, we won Germany with 2. I am not a reptile, respectable man, if I want to insult you, I will. You aren’t going to beat me. I don’t want to insult the son of my country even if you deserve to. 1, 2, 3 long live Algeria.
احلام غليزان 48 Posted 2008-12-05
Are you convinced that I am Algerian Mourad? Are you convinced why I am not proud of Zidane and Benzima? I respect Zidane because he does humanitarian acts. I neither hate or love him. This is my opinion. But Benzima…Long live Ziani Karim, Belhaj, Bouguera, Antar Yahya…Long live Algeria. God willing we will defeat Egypt and repeat the performance of Achiou. Wish success to Es-Setif, USMA, JS Bejaia. Long live Algeria.
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