Messi's shirt up for grabs

By James Bakama

Signed merchandise of superstars Lionel Messi, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Diego Maradona and Wayne Rooney will be amongst items up for grabs at an auction to fundraise for treatment of former child soldiers.

The auction set for Friday at Royale Suites Hotel, Bugolobi, will raise money for specialized treatment for the traumatized former child soldiers in northern Uganda.

The auction is the brainchild of the ‘I am some body’s Child Soldier’ Foundation (IamSCF), an organization that works for the wellbeing of the former soldiers.

It focuses on mental health treatment and rehabilitation. Shealarh Kizito, the Foundation Chief Executive Officer, explained that besides raising money, the charity is also raising awareness on the plight of the child soldier.

A number of fashion designers from all over the world and Uganda will be auctioning some of their best pieces, there will also be a Silent Auction held with luxurious and exceptional items up for grabs.

The sportswear includes three signed shirts of Messi (Barcelona jersey), Scholes and Giggs’ Manchester United shirts.

There will also be Maradona and Rooney signed football boots. Kizito, who manages the Foundation alongside her husband and Chief Operations Officer Hakeem Mansaray, said besides the stars’ signatures, the various items are also accompanied by certificates of authenticity.

Among the items up for grabs are two Center Court Debenture tickets for the 2015 Wimbledon Ladies final.

There will also be something for motor sport fans. There are up to 10 places for a Monaco Grand Prix VIP day trip with a hospitality lunch and grandstand seating.

Crown Beverages Limited is one of the sponsors that have come on board to support this Initiative. Entry at 6pm will be at sh100,000. Proceeds from the fashion show will go towards providing on going psychotherapy, food and clothes to 162 child soldiers within the next year.

A rehabilitation center will be built to annex Laroo Boarding School and will be the main center for provision services in northern Uganda.