All set for the Benjani Mwaruwari testimonial match

ALL is set for the Benjani Mwaruwari testimonial match at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday with the Immigration Department saying paperwork for all players and officials to visit the country is almost complete.

Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mr Francis Mabika yesterday confirmed the development.

"We are working with Zifa and, as of now, all the things are in order. We are processing the required documents for the players and officials," he said.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is among a galaxy of English premiership stars who have thrown their weight behind Mwaruwari's testimonial match.

Mwaruwari was one of the African players who organised and featured in Kanu's testimonial in Nigeria.

Now, Kanu is repaying his close friend with a visit to Zimbabwe to feature in the testimonial.

Zambian captain Chris Katongo is also set to grace the National Sports Stadium, just three months after leading his country to a sensational Nations Cup triumph.

The Chipolopolo skipper was named the best player at the 2012 Nations Cup finals.

Katongo, like Mwaruwari, used South African side Jomo Cosmos as a springboard to European football.

Now playing his football in China, Katongo pushed all the African stars into the shade at the 2012 Nations Cup finals with an irresistible show as he led from the front to power Zambia to their maiden title.

Zambian legend Kalusha Bwalya, who has helped turn the Chipolopolo brand around since taking over as Football Association of Zambia president, is also set to grace the occasion.

The Zambians will join South Africa's Steven Pienaar, Samba Sow of Mali, El-Hadji Diouf of Senegal, Kolo Toure and Didier Drogba of Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon's Alex Song, Nigeria's Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Ghana's Michael Essien.

Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari, South African defender Bongani Khumalo, Nwakwo and Chris Kanu and Emmanuel Adebayor are some of the active stars who are set to feature in the testimonial.

Retired stars likely to fly into Harare for the occasion include Nigerian legend Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Cameroon's Rigobert Song and Zimbabwe's own Bruce Grobbelaar.

This galaxy of African football stars, both retired and active, is set to honour Mwaruwari as he officially bids international football farewell.

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