Pele, Lamptey Coming for Nigaria's FA Cup

Three times African Footballer of the year, Abedi Ayew Pele and one time Ghanaian football prodigy, Nii Odartey Lamptey are among several other stars expected in the country for the final of Coca-Cola FA Cup on Saturday.

Abedi, the former Black Stars' mercurial captain, will lead the Ghanaian All Star team against its Nigerian counterpart in a match that will kick-start the FA Cup final.

Coca-Cola's Director of Marketing, Abraham Ninan, who made this disclosure in Lagos yesterday, said the All Star match forms part of the preparations to end this year's competition on a glamorous note.

Abedi and company will be up against the Nigerian side led by Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Secretary General, Taiwo Ogunjobi and the Super Eagles' Coach Christian Chukwu.

The match which intends to serve as an appetiser to the crunch final between Julius Berger of Lagos and Yobe Stars of Damatoru the same day, will feature Best Ogedengbe, Haruna Ilerika, Nwanbueze Nwankwo, Victor Odua, Bright Omkaro and a host of others for the Nigerian team.

Ten outstanding All Star players will be honoured with prizes ranging from gifts to trophies for their contributions towards the development of football in Africa.

Ninan said the package was in keeping to the promise that the final would be one of the high-points of activities marking Nigeria's independence day anniversary.

The Director of Marketing said Coca-Cola will, as from tomorrow deploy sophisticated equipment at the national stadium which will provide a 'Cool Zone' for the fans.

There will also be a children's inflatable pitch for football clinic at the stadium to be anchored by a notable ex-international who was a wizard with the ball in his playing days.

Besides, he added, 1000 secondary school students will be kitted and admitted free into the stadium by Coca-Cola for the final match.

Preceeding the final, will be the third place play-off between the semi-final losers -- Jigawa Golden Stars of Jigawa and Sunshine Stars of Akure tomorrow, also at the same venue.