Tidbits from St Petersburg

On the penultimate night of the Football For Friendship (F4F) programme in Saint Petersburg, Russia, there was a sudden announcement that Diego Maradona would be coming on to the field to greet the young players and have a word or two with journalists. The Argentine legend was expected to be in town to watch the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup. Everyone, including the journalists and the young players and officials, were rushed to a venue where there was a football match taking place. But after quite a few hours of waiting, it was announced that Maradona was unable to come. It was such a big disappointment that one of the fellow journalists even quipped: "The best dribbler has dribbled again". To be fair though, the flight carrying the Argentine legend was delayed according to the official version.

KERZAKOV HOPING FOR BETTER TIMES

Aleksandr Kerzhakov may not be a household name across the globe, but he is arguably the most popular Russian footballer of his generation. With a record 30 goals in the Russia jersey and close to 150 goals for several European clubs including Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg, Kerzhakov has earned his place in the Russian record books. The 34-year-old forward, who has played with two generations of Russian national players and lived the short-lived Russian revolution of Euro 2008, believes better times are ahead for his country.

Russia, the hosts of the ongoing FIFA Confederation's Cup and next year's FIFA World Cup, were eliminated from the group stages of the Confederations Cup in which they were debuting. But the son of a former footballer feels this phase shall pass too as there are new stars on the horizon.

"Our dress rehearsal for the World Cup has not been ideal," Kerzhakov said while speaking to this reporter during a Children's social project named Football For Friendship in St Petersburg on Sunday.

"However, we have one more year before the World Cup. Our coach is gathering a new team at the moment. I suppose that during the World Cup there will be new football stars who will be noted and recognised, and not only during the World Cup but after that also," Kerzhakov said while present here as a brand ambassador of the event.

Kerzhakov hoped that things, both on and off the field, would be even better in one year's time as Russia build up to host football's showpiece event for the very first time. "Everything was well-prepared for the Confederations Cup. It was a kind of rehearsal. I am sure that the World Cup will be much better than this. Most important thing depends on the weather. Hope it remains good."

ZAMORANO, BAPTISTA AND MORE

The fifth season of the Football For Friendship Project, aligned each year with a global international football event, drew its curtains through an entertaining two-hour show, with special appearances from former Chile international Marcelo Salas, former Brazil international Julio Baptista, Russia's record goalscorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov, FIFA's general secretary Fatma Samoura and other local sporting and entertainment celebrities.

The footballers and other sports icons handed over awards to the winners of different categories of the F4F football tournament before Fatma gave a powerful speech emphasizing football's ability to unite.

The speakers hoped this event, which has broadened its scope to 64 countries in its fifth season, will spread even further in coming years.