The Russian Football Union, together with Roscongress Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host a friendly match featuring Russian national team legends and African players of Russian Premier League clubs, the RFU has told Sputnik.
Russian football legends Andrey Arshavin, Alexander Mostovoi, Dmitry Sychev and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will also take part in the match.
In addition, participants of the second Russia–Africa Summit to be held in St. Petersburg will also play in the match. They will include guests of the summit, politicians, businessmen and diplomats from different countries.
Bilyaletdinov, a former player of the Russian national team and Spartak Moscow, said that the match is a sign of friendship.
"I think there will be mixed teams, the forum participants will also play, therefore, not all of them will be professional footballers. So do not expect a super level of preparation and spectacle. This match is more for a friendly atmosphere, a kind of sign of friendship and trust," he pointed out.
The game will be held at the stadium of Zenit St. Petersburg on July 28.
The second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum will be held on July 27-28 in St. Petersburg with delegations from all African countries invited to take part in the meeting.
Earlier, the RFU told Russian media that it will attend the summit and discuss bilateral cooperation and exchange of experience in the development of professional and youth soccer with African delegations.