PEACE MATCH PREVIEW

It is the day of the big game in Ghana, and all involved have spoken of their excitement.

A late morning press conference ahead of Michael Essien’s Peace Match in aid of the African Union drew journalists from across Africa, eager to see who had made the trip to Accra for this afternoon’s game, which is being screened live across the continent.

Essien has called on friends from both his past and present to help him put the game on, and from a Chelsea interest there is Ashley Cole, who captains the Rest of the World XI, Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, but also former Academy prospects, Portuguese winger Fabio Ferreira and German goalkeeper Nick Hamann.

Moving away from Stamford Bridge there are major Premier League names, Nigel De Jong and Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City, John Pantsil from Fulham and from further afield Freddie Ljungberg, now with Celtic in Scotland and Ghana international Samuel Inkoom, as well as Chelsea legends from the past in Marcel Desailly and George Weah, who coaches the African XI.

‘I want to thank Michael for making me part of this prestigious event,’ said Weah, the only African to have been named World Footballer of the Year. ‘Africa has suffered a lot and we need peace. Peace should not only come from sports men and women. It also comes from politicians, and they must help us for this.

‘Today we can see the difference, players are in uniforms and the coach is in a suit, so it tells you I will not be playing today. There will be a lot of people out there today who want to see these players they see on the television.

‘It is going to be a serious game, and I want to beat Europe. Excuse me Europe, but we are going to beat you!’

Every single player spoke publicly, including Cole who has been touched by the warm reception the travelling party has received.

‘We hope today’s game will show everyone can be together,’ the defender said. ‘Everyone is so friendly and happy, this is what we want to see. This is why we are here today; everyone will have a good time and have a smile on their face.’

‘Thank you to Michael for inviting me, and making me part of his squad,’ Drogba added. ‘This is something very important for Africa, for the world, and as the ambassador for peace, when he asked us to come we all wanted to.’

Kalou too lent his support, saying: ‘I’m honoured to be here and support Michael, and I’m scared to fly!

‘I hope it will be a great game, it is an honour for me to be here, Ghana is like my second home. We had a very good welcome and this afternoon will be a great game, we’re going to have fun.’

There was also vocal support from Ljungberg, who explained his presence.

‘I am great friends with Michael, my work with Africa started last year in America I went to South Africa to the shanty towns and with my own eyes I could see [the problems],’ the former Arsenal player said. ‘From that time on I said I would try to do my best in helping. It is hard as an individual to do big things, but when Michael said this I said I would be here and help as much as I can.’

City stars De Jong and Adebayor also had their say.

‘The passion here is unbelievable,’ said Dutchman De Jong. ‘We’re not going to make peace in one game but it’s a big step forward for a lot of people in Africa. For me it’s the passion I have for Africa that made me want to come here.’

‘Michael is doing a great job and we all support him,’ Adebayor said. ‘Africa has been through a lot. We are here to promote peace. It will not be easy but we have to try our best and see how we can help. It is good to be here and hopefully you will all enjoy the game this afternoon.’

The official Chelsea website will be there to report on this afternoon’s match, and we will be hearing from some of the players after the game to share their experiences of the occasion, which takes place on Africa Day, a public holiday which celebrates the formation of the African Union in 1963. There are now 53 countries part of the community.