14 Dec 2015

Sport: France and Real Madrid football greats arrive in Noumea

3:56 pm on 14 December 2015

A host of European football greats will begin arriving in New Caledonia today to help mark the 50th anniversary of the Gaitcha Club.

A soccer ball in the foreground, with a team of student players in the background.

Photo: 123RF

Former France and Real Madrid midfielder Christian Karembeu has invited a host of his former teammates for club and country, including David Trezeguet and Claude Makelele, to play in a gala match this weekend in Noumea.

Former Real Madrid teammates and Spanish internationals Pedro Contreras and José Emilio Amavisca are among the other big names, with Karembeu promising further surprises.

André Ulile is the Project Manager for Gaitcha's anniversary celebrations and says they have a big week in store.

"The club decided to fit these three days in three topics. Firstly, the cultural aspect of the club on Friday and Saturday we have the match with players from Real Madrid and Sunday we have a communicale day with all the tribes, the church and the players. We would like to show the three parts of our club."

The Gaitcha players won't be missing out on the action, with the club to play against Tafea FC from Vanuatu in the curtain-raiser to the All-Stars match.