interview John Kennedy will give up his bumper pay day to help those in Africa, writes Michael Grant

It wasn’t a day for caring about who might win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season, not when there were statistics being trotted out about tens of thousands of lives being lost and many, many more at risk.

The first famine of the 21st century has been declared in East Africa and yesterday Celtic -- and Manchester United -- showed that they wanted to do their bit.

A game between some of the club’s legends will be held at Parkhead on August 9, and the Celtic Charity Fund contacted Oxfam to suggest that the gate receipts from it should go to African famine relief.

The gesture was matched by former Celtic player John Kennedy, whose testimonial season this is. Kennedy was initially due to benefit from the match but he found that unthinkable given its timing. “I lost my career,” said Kennedy, who had to retire because of a serious knee injury. “But there are people losing lives through a lack of water and food.

“When we sat down and spoke about it the Charity Fund were always going to be getting a portion of the gate receipts. When we saw what was going on in Africa, the sad scenario, it opens your eyes up.

“I’ve got a testimonial year in which I’ll get a dinner and a golf day out of it and I’m more than happy with that. I am fortunate enough to have stayed here for the time I have and the club backed me remarkably well. I never expected this game in the first place.”

The Legends game will be shown live on ITV4. Billy Connolly, the Patron of the Celtic Charity Fund, will be there along with former players from either club, including Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke and Teddy Sheringham, among others.

The match was formally publicised at Parkhead yesterday as Kennedy, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, Victor Wanyama, the club’s Kenyan midfielder, and Judith Robertson from Oxfam Scotland sat in front of a green map of Africa. “East Africa is facing the worst food crisis seen anywhere in the world for many years, almost 12m people desperately need our help without delay,” said Robertson. “Every ticket bought for the Celtic versus Manchester United match will help us to provide food, clean water and sanitation across Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

“We are delighted that the football clubs, players, fans and celebrities are getting behind the appeal, your support really does make a difference to Oxfam’s work and the lives of those affected by the crisis.”

Wanyama is only just in the door at Parkhead but there was no more appropriate Celtic player for the press conference given that Kenya is caught up in the food crisis. “I think it is really great what people are doing and I just want to thank the club and John Kennedy,” said Wanyama. “This makes me feel great here because what they are doing is a big thing. They are trying to help so many people’s lives over there. It is very painful to watch something happening in your country like that when you are in a foreign country.”

Kennedy’s gesture was a fine act of humanity from a player who retired aged 26 having suffered an awful injury while playing for Scotland against Romania in 2004. “I was happy enough to give up my side of the gate receipts to a cause which is far greater than mine,” he said. “If you see the pictures and the videos that come out of these places, it’s heartbreaking.

“If I can make some sort of impact just with the game alone, and the exposure it might bring through celebrities and obviously the legends of the game, then it might open up people’s eyes here. Sometimes we’re wrapped up in a wee bubble and we don’t see everything else that goes in the world.

“Hopefully, though, it will bring some sort of light to the situation and people will be more aware of it and hopefully that will help the cause. We want as many people to come along as possible. It’s not a situation anymore that somebody who has had a good career, and been well paid in that time, is getting a payback. Now it’s all going to a good cause.

“If any of this money can go towards helping enhance the life of these people then I will be delighted. I’m not someone who is orientated around money. I’ve got my family and they are healthy. I’m more than happy to have enough to live on and if I can help other people around the world then it’s something I’m happy to give up.

“I don’t think there’s enough people aware of what’s going on in Africa. It’s amazing when you see the clips coming out of Africa, it pulls on your heart strings. I would feel guilty if I was taking my cut out of this game because I’m fortunate enough to have had my career and earned decent money it.

“I’ll be there on the night and have my wee bow. But it’s a bigger picture now and it’s about getting as many people through the gate as possible, to really push for it and get whatever we can. If it’s 30,000, 40,000, 50,000 ... the more the merrier because it’s all going to a good cause. Every person turning up will be helping to save lives.”

  • Tickets are now on general sale priced £10 Adult and £5 Concession. Tickets can be purchased by calling 0871 226 1888 or by visiting the Celtic Ticket Office.