Barca striker Eto'o to visit Israel for peace match

Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o will participate in a fundraising match in Tel Aviv aimed at promoting Middle East peace.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
samuel etoo 298.88 ap (photo credit: AP [file])
samuel etoo 298.88 ap
(photo credit: AP [file])
Barcelona's star striker Samuel Eto'o will participate in a fundraising match in Tel Aviv on Wednesday aimed at promoting Middle East peace. The game, to be held at the Hadar Yosef Multi-Sport Facility, will see stars of the Israeli comedy television show Eretz Nehederet face up against a mixed team of local soccer players from Betar Jerusalem and Bnei Sakhnin. All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Peres Center for Peace. Eto'o initiated the visit to Israel after taking part in the Peres Center peace match in Barcelona last year where the Catalans played against a team made up of Arab and Israeli soccer players. While in Israel the Cameroonian player will also hold a professional workshop for Israeli and Palestinian soccer coaches. An auction of items signed by soccer stars, including Real Madrid's Brazilian star Ronaldo and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, will be conducted on Tuesday night, follow Eto'o's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres. The Peres Center has been succesful in attracting superstars such as Eto'o to support its cause, and Ronaldo and Mourinho both have visited Israel to give their backing.