Zizou!

Zidane coming to Bangladesh

Friday July 07 2006 08:44:42 AM BDT

French legend Zinedine Zidane is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on November 7 for a two-day visit. The Algerian-born talisman, who will lead France in the World Cup

final against Italy in Berlin on Sunday, is the second iconic sportsman to ever visit this football fanatic land after the famous trip of American boxing legend Mohammad Ali way back in 1978.

Affectionately called Zizou, the midfield magician who is only a step away from greatness, will be here to open the Bogra factory of Grameen Danone Foods Limited, a social business enterprise of the local giants and French-based Danone Foods Limited. Professor Mohammad Yunus, the world renowned pioneer of micro-credit, initiated this enterprise. The factory at the northern city would be its first among fifty planned across the country.

The French superstar will also inaugurate an under-12 football team, but the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is not aware of his visit.

When contacted, the BFF general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal voiced his delight on Zidane's arrival and termed it as a 'great news' for the football lovers of the country.

The former Juventus and Real Madrid star will be accompanied by Frank Riboud, chairman of Danone Foods Limited.