Buffon may drop in on football marathon

Juventus and FIFA World Cup-winning Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon may be in Malta for six hours on April 22 to attend the 3rd Puttinu Cares 60-hour football marathon at the Marsa Sports Ground that weekend.

Organisers said his presence for an hour at the grounds would be confirmed over the next couple of days.

Gianluigi Buffon, who also plays for the Italian national team, is expected to play with children and parents from 2 to 3 p.m. as part of the marathon.

The goalkeeper was transferred to Juventus from childhood club Parma FC in 2001, for what was the largest transfer figure ever for a goalkeeper, and is regarded as one of the top of all time, winning IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award three times.

The football marathon is being organised by the Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Support Group.

Starting at 10 a.m. on April 20, it comes to a close at 10 p.m. the Sunday after.

The main aims of the marathon are "awareness and fun".

"We wish to raise awareness of the needs of young cancer patients and their families by encouraging other children to attend and meet our children during the football matches and other activities that are being organised throughout the day and the night," a spokesman for the organisers said.

They usually target over 400 teams of young and not-so-young players, the spokesman added, encouraging participants from various sectors, including schools, football nurseries, companies and government entities.

The marathon organisers are working on a voluntary basis and the event is being supported by the Education Ministry and the Malta Sports Council.

No targets have been set and donations are voluntary.

puttinucares@gmail.com