By Delinda Lombardo on
International soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to play in a charity game organized by Portuguese champions Porto after weekend floods left at least 42 people dead in his birthplace of Madeira.
“It’s where I grew up and where my family live,” Ronaldo said, “I couldn’t believe what I saw on the television. I want to help in any way I can.”
Porto said on their website (www.fcporto.pt) that their team will play the match against players from Madeira clubs Maritimo and Nacional. The date of the match is pending.
Ronaldo gave a shout-out to his hometown after scoring the opening goal in Real Madrid’s 6-2 win over Villareal at the Bernabeu on Sunday, when he lifted his shirt to display a vest with Madeira written on it.
Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal with population of around 250,000 and lies just over 480km (300 miles) from the West African coast.
The floods caused widespread damage along the south coast of the island, where three remote areas have been cut off, and it is feared more people will have died. A Portuguese social services spokesman said communication problems were proving very difficult and warned the death toll would “likely increase, given the circumstances of this flood”.
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