World’s Leading Footballer Dedicates Game To The Cause Of Global Hunger
Kak, a player widely regarded as the best in world football, has dedicated his participation in the UEFA Champions League Final tomorrow to the cause of hungry children. Kak combines his role as an attacking midfielder for AC Milan and Brazil, with work as an Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
When he steps out onto the field for AC Milan in their match against Liverpool at the Olympic Stadium in Athens tomorrow evening, Kak will have just two things on his mind: “Obviously, Wednesday night is all about winning the Champions League trophy for AC Milan,” he said. “But personally, I also want to dedicate my appearance in the Athens final to the cause of hungry children.”
As WFP’s youngest Ambassador Against Hunger, Kak has used his profile as a successful international sportsman to draw attention to the challenge of addressing global hunger.
“As professional footballers, we are very privileged,” said Kak as he prepared for the final in Athens. “From time to time we have a chance to help others because of who we are and what we do. I want to use my position as a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger to make more people aware of the challenges of feeding hundreds of millions of hungry children in some of the poorest, least developed parts of the world.”
“It’s an incredible asset to have the world’s best player in the world’s favourite game on our team,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. “Kak has shown that he can combine the skills and dedication needed to be at the very top of the game with a commitment to a worthy humanitarian cause.”
Kak’s dedication of the Champions League final follows the decision earlier this year, by Paul Tergat, the world marathon record holder — and another WFP Ambassador Against Hunger — to dedicate his participation in the 2007 Flora London Marathon to the cause of hungry children.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency: on average, each year, we give food to 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs, including 58 million hungry children, in 80 of the world’s poorest countries. WFP - We Feed People.