MAN U in Charity Bid
The most famous football club in the world has vowed to raise a staggering sum of money for the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund UNICEF.
Some of the stars of the club were present at a promotional event held to raise awareness by the charity, and they took a shot at raising one million dollars at a football kicking accuracy event.
The "Hublot Million Dollar Challenge" event was arranged in New York in front of the Flatiron building, the event was organized by the Swiss watchmaker and team's partner, "Hublot".
As per the campaign one of the world leaders in watch making, promised to write UNICEF a cheque of one million dollars for each ball hitting the bull’s eye.
The players who took part in the event included some of present and yester year’s international stars like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Edwin Van Der Sar.
The quartet took a shot at the tiny hole of a target; the target was masked as a giant watch at the end of 51 feet long arena.
Besides the players team manager Sir Alex Ferguson made an attempt, but including him all the players failed in their endeavours.
Van Der Sar who is the goal-keeper of the Manchester based club was the closest to hitting the target, the Dutch player later explained that the club regularly participates in different fund raising events.
"UNICEF is the charity that we are supporting representing the club (Manchester United). We do this a lot," the keeper added that "Twice a year we have a charity night, with food where all the players are present. A lot of fans come to the events. A few of the players went to (charity) projects in Africa”.
Despite the misses the officials of the watch manufacturers promised to write UNICEF a cheque calling it a very noble cause.
The Chief Executive Officer wrote a check of 110,008 dollars after the event. He said that hundred thousand dollars were coming from Hublot and ten thousand dollars (USD) from himself. The last eight dollars (USD) he wrote down because it is a lucky number to him.
The Red Devils are currently on a pre-season tour to the United States, Canada and Mexico; they have rested some of their leading players before the start of a gruelling season of English football next month.
The players who took part in the soccer world cup in South Africa have been rested to incorporate some of the upcoming players in the English domestic season.
The manager of the team is confident that the team will do well in the build up and the season itself.
"We are okay. We have done okay," Ferguson said. "We are playing all the young players and we are getting to know about their capabilities with our young players at our club we have to give them a challenge a bit, where the real ambition is. With young players who got that thing inside them, can do very well at our club".
The team is looking forward to the next season and is excited at the signing of defender Chris Smalling of Fulham and Mexican forward Javier Hernandez.
Hernandez is expected to make his debut on 16th of August, and mid-fielder Fletcher is confident that the Mexican will make an impression.
"He is a goal scorer. We have seen that in the World Cup. He has proved that wherever he plays he is a goal scorer. Hence Manchester United: as a team likes to play attacking football and create a lot of chances so I am sure he will fit right in”. Fletcher said.
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