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Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho set for a three-day tour of Kenya

Football lovers in Nairobi as well as Kisumu City will have a chance to mingle with Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, who is set for a three-day tour of Kenya from Friday.

The World Cup winner and double Fifa World Player of the Year, well known for his dribbling skills, will hold a football clinic at Kisumu’s Moi Stadium on Saturday before flying back to the capital where he is set to watch Sofapaka play former Kenyan football legends.

On Sunday, the former Barcelona and AC Milan star will be at Ruaraka to watch Sofapaka, the 2008 Kenyan Premier League champions- take on the legends at the Barclays Club. Before that, Gaucho will grace the Super 8 finals at the Camp Toyoyo.

Gaucho was renowned for his technical skills and creativity; due to high agility, pace as well as his use of tricks, feints and accuracy from the free-kick.

Ronaldinho moved to Europe at the age of 20 years when he joined Paris Saint Germain before switching to Barcelona with whom he won the Fifa World Player of the Year award in his second season.

Ronaldinho became the second Barcelona player, after Diego Maradona in 1983, to receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu after scoring two spectacular solo goals in the El Clasico.

Ronaldinho officially retired from football earlier this year, having not played professionally since leaving Brazilian side Fluminense in 2015. He was capped 97 times by Brazil, scoring 33 goals – including two en-route to World Cup glory in Japan and South Korea in 2002.

Ronaldinho inspired back-to-back La Liga triumphs in 2004-05 and 2005-06, also winning the Champions League in the latter season. He was at the peak of his powers as he claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2005; less so during a three-year stay with AC Milan, although he did feature in all-star line-ups alongside the likes of Paolo Maldini, Kaka and David Beckham.

Ronaldinho left San Siro midway through the Serie A title-winning 2010-11 season and returned to his homeland with Flamengo. He also experienced stints at Atletico Mineiro and in Mexico with Queretaro.

Ronaldinho is visiting Kenya as a guest of Betika and the matches attended are sponsored by Betika as well as be at the opening of the Betika stores.

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