Arsenal legend and former France
international, Robert Emmanuel Pires, will
lead a team of Arsenal technical and
business staff to the African Championship of
the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) which kicks off
on Monday, September 16 in Lagos.
Robert Pires.
The World Cup winner with France is expected to
jet into the country on Saturday, September 21,
2013 to participate in the activities marking the
finals of the championship.
Pires’ visit comes under the partnership between
Arsenal Football Club of England and the Airtel
Africa Group.
The Legend was a key member of “The
Invincibles”; the all-conquering Arsenal team that
went 49 games without a loss in the 2003/2004.
Legendary Nigerian international, Kanu Nwankwo
was also a member of “The Invincibles.”
He had an illustrious Arsenal career and was voted
the 6th greatest player in the history of Arsenal FC
during which he won three FA cups and two
Premier League titles. He also won the 1998 FIFA
World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 with the French
national team with which he was capped 79 times.
While in the country, the ex-Arsenal mid-fielder is
expected to enliven the atmosphere at the finals of
the Airtel Under-17 Championship and stand as an
inspiration to the youngsters vying for laurels in
the final games.
He is also billed to visit Oremeji Primary School 2,
one of Airtel’s adopted schools in Lagos as part of
its CSR initiative, Adopt-A-School programme
which primarily aims to provide access to quality
foundational education in remote locations of the
country where standard educational facilities and
quality faculties are not easily available.
The coming competition which is the season 2 of
the ARS African Championship initiative involving
over 18,000 boys and girls representing 16 African
countries including hosts Nigeria. It will run for a
period of seven days beginning with an opening
ceremony on Monday, September 16 at the Ikeja
Township Stadium, Agege, Lagos.
Each participating country’s team emerged after a
rigorous championship that took them through the
regions to national contests coordinated by
seasoned soccer coaches and the football
federation of the various countries.
Airtel Rising Stars Africa Football Championship is
Africa’s biggest Under-17 grassroots tournament
and the only one with strong consideration for
gender equality with the inclusion of the Female
Category. The eventual winners in both the male
and female categories will receive the grand prize
of $10,000 each.
Source: Thisday. www.simaoatbpress..com/2013/09/arsenal-legend-pires-storms-lagos-for.html?m=1

Welcome to Naija Robert Emmanuel Pires you are a real Legend

Yeah Respect to the Arsenal Legend