•‘One-Dollar campaign’ Charity match hangs in balance
• Katauti jets in to grace the event

Hope Charity Match
Today 15:00 hrs
Amavubi v All-Stars

Match Tickets
VIP blue seats- Rwf. 5, 0000
VIP green seats- Rwf.15, 000
Yellow seats Rwf.6, 000
Rest -Rwf. 2000
Dinner Ticket
Rwf.100, 000

The long-awaited Charity match aimed at supporting the ‘One-Dollar campaign’ for survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi hangs in balance after the visiting African football stars failed to show up yesterday in Kigali.

The All-Stars initial arrival was scheduled for last evening at 20:30 hours but hours before their expected arrival, a communiqué was sent around indicating the last minute changes.

The Minister of Sports and Culture, Joseph Habineza told Times Sport last evening that there was a change in plan, which forced players to alter the flight arrangements.

"The Ivorian players arrived in Abidjan Sunday and were tired to embark on the trip to Kigali immediately, which meant changes in the flight schedule.

However, they are arriving (in Kigali) tomorrow (today) at 13:00 hours,” Habineza said.

The Minister, the driving force behind the All-Stars project noted that the game will be played as planned.

Out of the initial list of up to 13 players, all from Cameroon and Ivory Coast, seven players namely; Eto’O (Barcelona), Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Geremi Njitap (Newcastle), Rigobert Song (Galatasaray) and Idriss Kameni (Espanyol) had confirmed their participation in this Charity game.

Players, who were expected but were doubtful to grace this event include; Alexander Song (Arsenal), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Boubacar Sanogo (Bremen), S. Toure(Ivory Coast), Idriss Ilolo (Ivory Coast) and Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal).

Meanwhile, former Amavubi Stars skipper Hamad Ndikumana linked with the national team yesterday from Cyprus to grace the event which will also act as a warm up for the Wasps, who lock horns with African champions, Egypt on July 5 in the 2010 World/Africa Nations qualifiers in Cairo.

President Paul Kagame has footed the travel expenses for the visiting players. Away from the pitch, the players will pay a courtesy call to the President, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre as well as visit and share experiences with orphans.

The African players are also scheduled to be hosted to a dinner at Serena hotel this evening. They’re scheduled to depart on tomorrow.

The ‘One Dollar Campaign’ for Genocide Survivors is a project developed by the Rwandan Diaspora community and supported by the Diaspora General Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

The money collected at the match and dinner will be used to improve the living conditions and social welfare of the survivors.  It is the second time that Eto’O, goalie Kameni, Rigobert Song and Geremi will have stepped in Rwanda.

In 2006, they were part of the Cameroon squad that hit Rwanda’s national team, the Amavubi Stars, 3-0 during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ends