Mantorras bids farewell in solidarity game

Angola,  Lisbon - The Angolan footballer Pedro Mantorras will bid his official farewell on July 18, during a solidarity match between Benfica of Portugal and an old stars team of the world to be disputed at Luz Stadium in Lisbon. Benfica and former footballer Luis Figo presented on Monday in Lisbon, the game of solidarity called “a gesture against hunger”, which will be the official farewell of the former “star” of Benfica and Angolan national team. The income of the challenge, which is formed by opposing team of Figo friends, will revert to support children of African countries. Mantorras becomes Benfica's ambassador to the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), in which Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira, considers an honour “as significant and of great excitement and relevance for Benfica and for Angolan people”. Among those confirmed for the match are Brazilians Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, Serginho, Belletti, Sonny Anderson and Elber, and Italian Fabio Canavarro. The game, which is expected to be watched by over 60,000 spectators, will be headed by former Italian referee Massino Busacca, currently head of the refereeing department of FIFA.