Kolkata: Already one of the main venues for the upcoming edition of the U-17 FIFA World Cup, footballs fans in Kolkata are set for a bigger treat as legendary Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is set to visit the, ‘City of Joy’ in the month of September, reports confirmed.
The 48-year old would visit Kolkata on the 19th of September, to inaugurate a Durga Puja. Firhad Hakim, a minister of the West Bengal government while speaking to Sangbad Pratidin said, “Following the tradition, the Chief Minister of West Bengal will be present on the auspicious day of Mahalaya. Oliver Kahn will be present and will be our chief guest.”
However, this isn’t the first time that the legendary German is visiting the city. Earlier he had playeded his farewell match in Kolkata, where he led a Bayern Munich to a 3-0 victory over city football giants Mohun Bagan.
He was highly impressed by the response he had got in his first visit to the city and he wanted to return once again. Therefore, Kahn didn’t turn down the offer when he was asked to inaugurate a Puja pandal in Kolkata.
Kahn however isn’t a new name to the residents of Kolkata, a city known for it’s rich football heritage and ardent fans of the sport. He is one of the most accomplished goalkeepers and had represented Germany in 86 international matches. He also had a long career of 14 years playing for Bayern Munich. Kahn was also the first goalkeeper in the history of the World Cup to be awarded with the, ‘Golden Ball’ when he won it in 2002.
His excellent goalkeeping skills earned him the UEFA Best European Goalkeeper Awards for four consecutive years from 1999-2002 and he was also named the, ‘German Footballer of the Year’ in the years 2000 and 2001.
Already Argentine legend Diego Maradona’s visit to the city for an exhibition match has been fixed and Kahn’s arrival few days before is no less than an absolute treat for the football fanatics of Kolkata. Hence, they would thus be able to put behind them the grief of the legends, ‘El Clasico’ being shifted to Mumbai from Kolkata and would eagerly wait for the goalkeeping legend to visit the city.