By Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
The Brazilian football legend, Roberto Carlos, is set to feature in a charity match with an English team, Bull In The Barne United, that plays in Shrewsbury & District Sunday League.
Carlos, 48, a legend of Spanish and European football giant, Real Madrid, was listed as one of the prizes in the eBay raffle draw which the pub team was lucky to have the player join the team to feature in a game.
The defender who plays the left-back wing said though he is somehow nervous, he has resumed training to get fit for the match after a long timeout.
Carlos said, “I’ve been back in training for weeks to get match fit for the eBay Dream Transfer, and I’m a little nervous about my first game after a six-year break.
“I can’t wait to meet the team I end up playing with though, and of course size up the team we’ll be playing against,” he added.
In the course of trying to get Roberto Carlos to play for their side by getting the actual raffle ticket, teams paid as much as 5 pounds for a ticket.
However, Bull In The Barnes United were fortunate to have gotten the right ticket after Liam Turrall told the coach to do so.
According to the media, Turrall said, “I’m sure there will be a few opposition players that want to leave a mark on him,”
“To have that level of experience and technical ability, I’ll be looking to play off him as much as possible, knowing if I make that lung-busting run he can find me.
“I’ll be fulfilled if we can exchange some quality interplay down the flank and set up – or dare I say score in a dream scenario – a goal at the end of it,” he added.
Furthermore, the presence of Roberto Carlos has attracted a lot of interest to the event with the likes of renowned football figures, former England striker Eni Aluko and commentator Chris Kamara featuring as a player for a non-league side in England and reporting on the games respectively.
The proceeds generated from the event by eBay will be donated to Football Beyond Borders, a charity organisation that helps the less privileged and disadvantaged persons in the United Kingdom.
