Kahn’s last match his first in front of 1,25,000 spectators

Kolkata, March 19 He may have under his belt the World Cup player of the tournament title, having emerged as the best player in the Japan-Korea 2002 World Cup. But legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has never had the opportunity to play in front of 1,25,000 screaming spectators. It will be a whole new challenge for the stalwart German custodian when FC Bayern Munich take on Mohun Bagan in their Asian tour exhibition tie at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on May 27. Most importantly, the match will Kahn’s send-off in all forms of soccer.

Announcing the much-anticipated fixture, Bayern Munich’s director of international affairs Martin Haegle expressed how excited he is at the prospect of the big club playing in front of 1,25,000 spectators. “I am feeling thrilled to know that I will play my last match at a stadium that will be a fullhouse, with 1,25,000 spectators,” he said at a press meet in the city.

Haegle also played out video clippings of an interview of Kahn in which the world-renowned goalie expressed his excitement at getting to play at the expansive Kolkata ground.

Haegle, who visited the city with FC Bayern Munich’s junior outfit in 2005 to participate in the IFA Shield, also showed another video interview of FC Bayern Munich’s director, the legendary striker of yesteryears Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who wished The German club a successful Asia tour and expressed hopes that Bayern’s participation in the three Asian tour matches will bring about plenty of renewed enthusiasm among soccer lovers across Asia.

Bayern’s Asian tour comprises matches in three cities — Jakarta, Guangzhou and Kolkata.

Interestingly, Bengal Peerless group, which is picking up the tab for Bayern’s Kolkata visit in May, is looking to make the most of the Indo-German relationship initiative, with the aim of giving the sport in Kolkata a shot in the arm through proper youth development programmes in the near future.

Bengal Peerless group’s director Kumar Shankar Bagchi indicated that the German premier club may start an academy somewhere in Bengal, if a suitable plot of land is available. In fact, it was learnt through reliable sources that a Kolkata-based company, which runs its own football team, may be trying to tie up with Bayern for a separate youth development initiative.

Haegle said that apart from fielding its team for the match against Mohun Bagan, Bayern will hold a clinic in the city where the team’s coaches as well as the players will be demonstrating basic skills of footballers to young guns. And the top players out of the demo session will be picked to tour to Germany for a five-day training stint at FC Bayern Munich.

Asked about the availability of the players for Kahn’s last match, Haegle said: “All the top players including five Latin American players will be seen on the ground on May 27. Again, we must have some surprise for the spectators on the special day. Kahn’s successor under the bars, Michel Rencing, will also be seen in action for a few minutes,” he said.