Iran, African stars to play for charity

PTV - Osasuna's Iranian midfielder Javad Nekounam will be among a star-studded lineout playing in a charity match in aid of African children.

The game is being organized by Sevilla's Malian striker Frederic Kanoute, the 2007 African Footballer of the Year, in collaboration with the United Nations Children agency, UNICEF, in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

An official invitation for Nekounam for joining the African stars was delivered to Osasuna last week, Mehr News Agency reported Saturday.

African football stars including Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o will be among the players participating in the match scheduled for May 13.

"The main aim is to obtain funds to fight against infant mortality in Africa and work with Kanoute to develop the 'children's city' in Bamako," Sevilla FC said in a statement released on April 14.

"My African friends and the best players from the continent will be present, like (Chelsea striker) Drogba, (Arsenal's Togolese star Emmanuel) Adebayor, (Barcelona) Eto'o, (Chelsea's Ghanaian midfielder Michael) Essien, everyone responded well, they wanted to come," Kanoute said.

Nekounam is cleared to play in his team's weekend match against Deportivo La Coruna after being out of the game over the past seven months due to a severe rupture he suffered in his right knee.