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This is an archive article published on September 20, 2008

Kolkata set for a date with Arshavin

If everything goes to plans, Andrei Arshavin and his club Zenit St-Petersburg would be seen in action in Kolkata.

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If everything goes to plans, Andrei Arshavin and his club Zenit St-Petersburg would be seen in action in Kolkata. It is learnt that the state sports ministry is planning to organise a mega football event in the city in January. Along with Zenit St-Petersburg, a top club from Turkey is also expected to play.

The three city giants 8212; Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting and an outstation I-League side will make the list in this proposed six-team tournament. The tournament will be named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and is likely to start on January 23, Netaji8217;s birthday.

The 27-year-old Arshavin was the undoubted star of Russia8217;s march to the Euro 2008 semifinal. Earlier, he helped his club to first Russian Premier-Liga title last year. He is also Russia8217;s first ambassador for the Fifa SOS Children8217;s Village Charity Project for child orphans.

The state sports minister Subhas Chakraborty plans to organise the tournament after the first phase of the I-League. There would be a few days8217; gap before the second phase starts. If the plan materialises, the city will once again witness top quality soccer action.

Kolkata8217;s tryst with top class football stars is few and far between. Pele came here in 1977. Then Roger Milla of Cameroon paid a visit in 1990. Last in the list was Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn who played his farewell match against Mohun Bagan last May.

 

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