HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) – In an emotional announcement made Wednesday, soccer legend Zico, known for his illustrious career as both a player and a coach, revealed that he will host a charity soccer match next July in Hiroshima. This significant event coincides with the poignant 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city, commemorated the following month.
The charity match will take place at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima and is expected to feature a star-studded line-up, including Football wizard Ronaldinho, 44, who was instrumental in Brazil’s triumph at the 2002 World Cup. is held in Japan and South Korea.
Having hosted an annual charity match in Brazil since 2004, this will be the first time Zico will hold this event outside its homeland, reflecting its commitment to using the beautiful game for a noble cause.
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In addition to the charity match, next year will also mark the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil, as well as 80 years since the tragic atomic bombings during World War II in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“Through football events, I hope to convey a powerful message of peace to the world,” said Zico, now 71, who also took time to pay his respects by laying flowers at the cenotaph in the Memorial Park of the peace of Hiroshima on the same day.
A former star player and then head coach of the Kashima Antlers in the J-League, Zico then took the reins of the Japanese national team from 2002 to 2006, leading them to the World Cup in Germany. He currently serves as a valuable advisor to Kashima.
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This charity match promises to not only be entertaining but also inspiring, uniting football fans and promoting peace in memory of a significant historical moment.
