Ilsur Metshin conducted a tour of Kazan for the legends of world football

(KZN.RU, May 13). Ronaldinho, the world football legend, world champion and winner of the Confederations Cup, and Jay Jay Okocha, the Olympic champion, winner of the African Nations Cup, visited the Kazan Kremlin and the stadium “Kazan Arena”. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, accompanied them.

The former football players were told about the peculiarities of the new 45 thousandth stadium. The “Kazan Arena” became the first stadium in the country, built for the World Cup-2018. I. Metshin told the guests about the competitions held there, noted that the matches of the Russian Football Championship and the Europa League had already been held at the stadium.

Legendary players also tested the lawn in the stadium. Ronaldinho and Okocha struck at the gate and then gladly juggled ball. “Great stadium, the lawn is in excellent condition. I even want to play here”, the Brazilian shared his impression.

Also, the athletes visited the reserve-museum “Kazan Kremlin”. Players learned the history of Kazan, walked the territory of the Kremlin, and enjoyed the beauties of the view on the city. “We are preparing special routes for tourists in order to show the diversity of Russia through the architecture of the city. In addition to the beautiful organization of the world football competition, we would like to show our guests our traditional hospitality, our hospitable people”, I. Metshin addressed the players and gave them a tubeteika, a traditional Tatar hat.

Ronaldinho and Okocha arrived in Kazan to open the park of the Confederations Cup. Legendary football players, together with the Mayor of Kazan, Alexei Smertin, the former captain of the Russian national football team, and Elmira Kalimullina, the ambassador of the World Cup-2018 from Kazan, gave an official start to the event.