Balikpapan to Host Match between Arsenal and Liverpool Legends

TEMPO.CO, Balikpapan - A match between Arsenal and Liverpool legends will be held in Balikpapan Master Cup 2017 at Batakan Stadium in November. The match between former world-class players will mark the unveiling of the new 40,000 seat stadium.

“We have invited the masters from Arsenal and Liverpool to play in Balikpapan Master Cup 2017,” promoter Yaser Arafat said on Monday.

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Former Arsenal player Mikael Silvestre said that he will bring 16 mates, such as Robert Pires, Freddy Ljungberg, Patrick Vieira, etc, but not Thierry Henry.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will consist of Patrik Berger, Steve McManaman, Dietmar Hamann, Milan Baros, Emile Heskey, Xabi Alonso and Robbie Fowler. Some of the players were the Merseyside heroes in the Champions League win in 2005. “We will give our best performance,” defender John Arne Riise.

Erstwhile Indonesian national team forward Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto has called on his team-mates to play their best against Arsenal and Liverpool legends. “We will play seriously in the match to respect [national team legend] Bima Sakti who will coach Indonesian masters team,” he said.

The exhibition tournament will pit together Arsenal legends, Liverpool legends and Indonesia legends in Kalimantan.

Masters Football Asia, iSportaiment and Balikpapan Chamber of Commerce and Industry will bring 40 foreign players and officials to entertain football fans.

The tickets will go on sale online at prices ranging from Rp300,000 to Rp1.5 million.

SG WIBISONO