Romario, Zico to play in Soccerex duel

IANS

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 25: Romario of Adelaide is tackled by Tony Vidmar of the Mariners during the round fourteen Hyundai A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium November 25, 2006 in Gosford, Australia.

Rio de Janeiro, Novem Nov 22 – Brazilian football legends Romario and Zico will take part in a match featuring intellectually handicapped players on Rio’s iconic Copacabana beach Sunday.

The match has been scheduled to raise awareness of mental disabilities ahead of next year’s inaugural Special Olympics Football World Cup in Rio, reports Xinhua.

The fixture will also form a part of the 2012 Soccerex Global Convention ? a five?day football business conference in the beachside Brazilian city.

Romario, 46, has been a strong campaigner for children with disabilities since being elected to Brazil’s federal chamber of deputies as a member of the country’s socialist party in 2010.

The former Barcelona striker and World Cup winner’s youngest daughter, Ivy, has Down syndrome.