ROSTOV-ON-DON — Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning team will play a friendly match next month in Chechnya, a local official said Wednesday.
Chechnya's government web site cited sports minister Haidar Alkhanov as saying Kaka, Ronaldinho and the recently retired Ronaldo are likely to feature in the March 10 match. Chechnya president Ramzan Kadyrov will captain a team comprising local players.
There was no word of confirmation from Brazilian officials, but if the match goes ahead it will be the third major football coup in a month for the poverty-stricken region.
Earlier this month, former Dutch midfielder Ruud Gullit agreed to coach Kadyrov's team, Terek Grozny, and veteran Brazilian left back Roberto Carlos left Corinthians to join Anzhi Makhachkala in neighboring Dagestan.
"This will be a powerful stimulus for Terek players and a huge present for Chechen supporters," the site quoted Alkhanov as saying.
It is unclear how much the Brazilian team is to be paid. The value of Gullit's 18-month contract is thought to be about $5 million per year. Roberto Carlos' reported two-year deal with Anzhi is worth $9 million per year.
Alkhanov said Gullit promised to use his connections to persuade as many Brazil players to come to Chechnya as possible for the friendly.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
