World AIDS Day 'Play for life' Novelty Football Match

                                                                                                               
 
Friends Africa in Partnership with Coca-Cola held the 3rd edition of the Superstars Play for Life Novelty football match at Football Pitch, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, Lagos.
 
This was in commemoration of the World AIDS Day and an avenue to lend its voice to the Stigma and Discrimination of People living with HIV/AIDS on recently.
 
In the novelty match Team Eagles played against Team Entertainers with a score of 2-5 in favour of team eagles.                            
 
Afeez Oyetoro (aka Saka), one of the players, said that the match is aimed at creating awareness, education, and addressing the issue of discrimination and stigmatization against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).                                                   
 
Celestine Babayaro, another player, said the yearly event also seeks to show to the general public that PLWHA can still lead healthy lifestyles hence the need for bringing stigmatization to 'point zero'.
 
“Friends Africa believes that if celebrities and stars could identify with people affected by HIV/AIDS, the public would be challenged to see that PLWHA are normal and thus should be treated as such,” he said.
 
Emmanuel Babayaro said this is the 3rd edition of the Novelty match comes with a few twists in 2014 as we would commence Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) five days before the main event.
 
This, according to him, will afford the general public the opportunity to know their HIV status as early detection simply means early commencement of treatment and overall prevention of deaths.
 
The line-up of participating football stars and celebrities this year include entertainers like, Afeez Oyetoro (Saka),
Sidney , Sexy Steel,Solid Star.
 
Others were  Jude Orhorha, Vincent Opurum, MC Yellow Mouth, Femi & The Gang, Oga Yaw, John Njama,,Emmanuel Emordi.
 
 
Former football stars that participated include Daniel Amokachi (The Bull) Celestine Babayaro, Ifeanyi Udeze, Teslim Fatusi, Taiwo Enegwa, Abdul Isah, Peter Ogaba, Mbas Mangut, Raphael Chukwu Ndukwe, Victor Agah, Bello Ikeleji, Emmanuel Babayaro Samson,
 
Tammy Jonathan, a member of the Advocate of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDs Nigeria, thanked the organiser for celebrating them, stating his greatest achievement so far has been the lives he has been able to touch as an advocate for true health exchange through partnership and dialogue with policies makers.