PANAJI: State associations of Mumbai and Goa have been asked to start preparations to host Arsenal FC and Manchester United legends, which will include the likes of Thierry Henry, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Indo Global Foundation have asked the Western India Football Association (WIFA) and Goa Football Association (GFA) to make elaborate arrangements for two Masters Cup matches involving a clash between former players of English Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal.

While the Cooperage has been shortlisted as the venue for the first match in Mumbai on June 3, the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda will host the concluding match on June 7. According to initial plans, Delhi was considered as a venue but organizers decided Goa would be a better bet, judging from the massive response that Arsenal legend Robert Pires received during his stint with FC Goa in the Indian Super League.

“They have already booked the ground with us. According to what we have been told, there will be 32 players, 26 of whom would be World Cuppers. The organizers plan to make this an annual affair for the next five years,” said WIFA CEO Henry Menezes.

Indo Global Foundation confirmed that the Masters Cup matches will be staged in India but refused to confirm the names of legends that will make their presence felt.

“We have confirmationbut we will be happy to release the names at a press conference early next month. If we announce the names now, the charm will be lost,” Saurav Chakravarthi from the Indo Global Foundation told TOI on Friday.

For the record, the organizers were originally scheduled to make the announcement at a press conference in Delhi on March 11.

While the organizers, not surprisingly, remained tightlipped on the legends that will participate in the Masters Cup from either club, mails exchanged between the organizers and state associations have listed the likes of Thierry Henry, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Paul Parker.

In another list of separate mails sent to the All India Football Federation ( AIFF ), the organizers had claimed the Masters Cup would attract legends like Robert Pires, David Seaman, Ryan Giggs, Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre and Denis Irwin.

“I can only confirm that there will be 10 marquee players. As for the rest of the squad members, the minimum requirement for a player to be included is to have 100 caps, although, in some cases, we are willing to relax that clause,” said Saurav.

Each team will have a minimum of 16 players.

During their stay in India, the legends have also been asked to get involved in grassroot activities in Goa and Mumbai.

