Gallas, Saha, Howard set for Yobo centenary game

Four more top players from Europe, including William Gallas, Louis Saha, Tim Howard and Steven Pienaar, have booked their flight to Port Harcourt for the Joseph Yobo Centenary Game, the befitting testimonial match planed to mark the retirement of the former Super Eagles captain from football on May 27.

Yobo’s associate and former Super Eagles player, Waidi Akanni, confirmed yesterday that plans for a befitting testimonial was on course with the quality of players who have confirmed their presence in Port Harcourt.

“It is becoming very exciting the number of top players, who have confirmed their readiness to be in Nigeria for the Yobo testimonial. I can assure you that before that date in May, more top players are going to be unveiled,” stressed Akanni.

Gallas is a former Chelsea and France defender, who helped the Blues win back-to-back English Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho in 2005 and 2006. He also played for Arsenal, Tottenham and Perth Glory (Australia) before he retired from the game two years ago.

Saha, Yobo’s former teammate at Everton is also a French former professional footballer, capped 20 times for the French national team. Everton and United States of America goalkeeper, Tim Howard, is also listed for the Garden City football fiesta.

The fourth player to also confirm his presence in Nigeria to honour Yobo is another Everton and South African star, Steven Pienaar. He was captain of the Bafana Bafana, until October 2012.

Earlier, Yobo’s former Everton teammate, Wayne Rooney and African greats, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, plus a host of other international football personalities have all shown interests in honouring the Ogoni-born star who amassed 100 international caps, scoring seven goals in a career that spanned 13 years.