Peerless Housing sponsors Kahn's farewell match

Kolkata-based real estate major Bengal Peerless Housing Development Co Ltd has signed an agreement with F C Bayern Munich, the Germany-based football club, to play a friendly match against Mohan Bagan Athletic Club, the oldest club in Asia, in Kolkata on May 27 this year.

Bayern's Asian promotional drive has already featured visits to Japan and China, and is now set to incorporate Indonesia and India on a ten-day post-season tour of the region.

The aim is to drive awareness of and affinity to the German Bundesliga in general and the Bayern Munich brand in particular.

Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata, K S Bagchi, managing director of Bengal Peerless and Bayern's host in India, said, "As part of our corporate social responsibility, we thought of uplifting the spirit of football in Kolkata and bringing the F C Bayern Munich team here to play against Mohan Bagan, one of the finest football teams in the world."

"Going forward, F C Bayern Munich will also train some of our football players in Kolkata. It may even take some of our players overseas for training," Bagchi added. According to Martin Haegele, head of international affairs, F C Bayern Munich, the club would field a high-quality team, featuring the likes of Mark van Bommel, Martin Demichelis, Lucio, Zé Roberto, Daniel van Buyten and Andreas Ottl, together with captain Oliver Kahn, set for his final match as a professional in Kolkata. "Any European footballer would dream of the setting Oliver Kahn will have for his last match," commented Bagchi.

The match will be staged at the Salt Lake stadium, the second-biggest arena in the world, in front of a crowd likely to be at or near the 1,20,000 capacity.

According to Haegele, the Bayern stars will undertake a range of other activities away from the field of play.

"We want to contribute to the development of the game and build partnerships over and above the friendly character of the match," pointed out Haegele.

One plan is to hold training sessions for kids and youths together with the stars, led by Ottmar Hitzfeld and Michael Henke. Exceptionally talented youngsters may be invited to the FC Bayern Football School in Rust for further skills training supervised by qualified coaches.

On May 17, a day after the final Bundesliga match of the season against Hertha BSC Berlin, a Bayern delegation will set off for Jakarta ready for a friendly match against the Indonesian national team three days later.

The Munich party would then move on to China for the Allianz Cup return leg against the Chinese Olympic football team in Guangzhou on May 24, before a third and final exhibition match in Kolkata, India on May 27 against Mohan Bagun AC, the oldest club in Asia.