Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko and legendary striker Andriy Shevchenko will act as team captains in a ‘Game for Ukraine’ match that will be held at Stamford Bridge on August 5.
The pair came up with the idea of the match, to raise money for the reconstruction of the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky Lyceum in Chernihiv Oblast.
It was announced by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zlenenskyy.
Organisers say the respective teams will include ‘some of the biggest names in world football’.
The match will be played the weekend before the start of the 2023-24 Premier League season. Arsenal could yet be involved in the Community Shield on that weekend if Manchester City beat Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
“The charity game aims to raise funds for the reconstruction of the school, where children will have their graduation ceremony among the ruins,” said Zinchenko.
“They need this school and as a father I feel and share the pain of every Ukrainian child.
“I am sure we will see many great players on the pitch, from Arsenal, Chelsea and other top teams.”
