By DPA
Johannesburg : Some of the biggest names in football, past and present, took to the pitch in a packed Cape Town stadium Wednesday evening for a game honouring former South African president Nelson Mandela on his 89th birthday.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, former European player of the year Ruud Gullit and former FIFA footballer of the year George Weah were among the stars who stepped out for the 'FIFA 90 Minutes for Mandela' match between an Africa XI and Rest of World XI that ended in a 3-3 draw.
South African star defenders Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish and France's Christian Karembeu were also in the line-up.
The atmosphere at the Newlands Stadium was festive, with the blaring of 'vuvuzela' horns and loud cheers greeting the stars as they rotated on and off the field.
Brazilian icon Pele was on hand for the ceremonious kick-off as the game saw flashes of brilliance from players well past their prime such as Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan, who scored two goals, as well as Gullit and three-time African player of the year Abedi Ayew Pele of Ghana, who scored a goal apiece.
Ironically, several strikes on goal from the more youthful Eto'o ended in the hands of the goalkeeper.
The match, held under the FIFA "Say No to Racism" banner, ended two days of FIFA events marking the birthday of South Africa's favourite son, fondly referred to in South Africa by his clan name Madiba.
FIFA introduced the anti-racism campaign last year to combat the growing problem of players, including Eto'o, enduring racist taunts from fans, particularly in Europe.
FIFA also bestowed honorary membership Wednesday on the Makana Football Association that was founded by Mandela's former fellow prisoners on Robben Island off Cape Town, where he spent 17 of his 27 years in prison.
In a tribute to Mandela's fight against racism, players wore his old prisoner number 46664 on their jerseys while the 35,000-plus spectators sang "Happy Birthday".
"This match is more than just a game. It symbolises the power of football to bring people together from all over the world, regardless of the language they speak or the colour of their skin," Mandela said in a recorded message shown on a giant screen.
Earlier in the day, Mandela, accompanied by Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US president Jimmy Carter, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and other former world leaders announced the launch of a think-thank named 'The Elders' to tackle pressing global issues.
The proceeds of the Mandela match will go towards social programmes, including the elderly statesman's 46664 HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.