Ian Rush Visits Jakarta, Indonesia 2010

DON'T MISS OUT! LIVERPOOL LEGEND 'IAN RUSH' IN JAKARTA - 15 MAY 2010

Football legend and former top striker for English Premier League side Liverpool, Ian Rush, who was recently appointed the club’s ambassador for soccer schools development, will make a brief visit to Jakarta on May 14-17.

Rush, who was Liverpool’s forward between 1980 and 1987, will appear in a meet-and-greet session with fans and share his soccer expertise in a coaching clinic at the Soemantri Brodjonegoro Sports Stadium in Jakarta to 1,500 students from 112 elementary schools from rural and impoverished areas of West Java.

The visit is organized by Indonesia’s British Chamber of Commerce (Britcham) and Bank Permata.

The 112 elementary schools are participants of the soccer league initiated by Britcham three years ago. The league, which starts in October and ends in May, began with 12 participating schools, grew to 20 schools in the second year and 54 schools in the third year.

Rush’s visit to Jakarta will coincide with the final of the English FA Cup on May 15 in London, the world’s oldest soccer competition.

“He is ready to get involved in helping develop kids after his professional period. He is logically suited by virtue of the fact he has been appointed as soccer schools ambassador by Liverpool FC. It underlines his personal passion to give back,” Britcham executive director Chris P. Wren said Tuesday.

In April, 48-year-old Rush was appointed as both Liverpool’s commercial director and the club’s ambassador for soccer schools development, with activities spread globally, not only in the UK.

“Liverpool has the vision of having sports and education together in a real academy. The program started in Spain and South America, where they link football to learning English language,” Wren said.

The English striker, who after a brief spell at Italian side Juventus, rejoined Liverpool in 1988 to 1996, will also briefly coach 100 students from state elementary school SD I Karet Tengsin as part of Permata’s social corporate responsibility program.

Rush, who hung up his boots in 2000, is Liverpool’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 346 goals during his time at Anfield, as well as the leading 20th-century goal-scorer in the FA Cup and all-time record FA Cup Final goal-scorer.

Although Indonesia is traditionally seen as the stronghold of fans of rival English side Manchester United, Liverpool also has a considerable fan base here.

Rush’s visit to Jakarta will coincide with the final of the English FA Cup on May 15 in London.