Hibernian have announced that Easter Road hero Franck Sauzee has had to withdraw from a charity match set to take place next month.
Sauzee, who was at the Leith club between 1999 and 2001, was set to put on his boots once again 21 years after retiring from football. However that will no longer happen with Hibs stating the 56-year-old is suffering from a health problem which has left him gutted to miss the game organised by the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation.
But it has been confirmed the event dubbed "Le Match" will still go ahead on Sunday November 20 as a Sauzee select XI takes on a Hanlon Stevenson Foundation (HSF) side. Sauzee has insisted that it is impossible for him to feature although he made a promise that he will be back in Edinburgh to support Lee Johnson's men in the near future. He said: “I would like to thank all of the Hibees for the warm welcome I received at the Motherwell match. It was great to be back at Easter Road.
“Unfortunately, I have a health problem and it will be impossible for me to be with you for Le Match. I need to rest for a couple of months, but I promise I will be back in Edinburgh to support Hibernian.”
While HSF chairman, Graeme Cadger, added his best wishes to Sauzee as he gave a hint that there could be some surprises in the squad for the fundraising clash with the likes of former Scottish League Cup captain Rob Jones and ex-striker Dirk Lehmann already announced in a star-studded line up.
“First of all – and on behalf of everyone associated with HSF – I want to wish Franck a speedy recovery," Cadger said. "He is a giant of a man, on and off the pitch. My admiration for him as a player has been exceeded by the respect I have for the way he has immersed himself in our HSF activities and goals.
“I also know how touched he was by the reception he received from supporters at our dedicated fundraising dinner and on his long-awaited return to Easter Road. This will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever had the pleasure of dealing with him, but he urged me not to cancel the match. He said the players involved will love seeing each other again, in addition to playing in front of the Hibernian support once more.
“We have more than 25 players signed up, with a few more surprises up our sleeves. Each of them is committed to helping us generate what we can for causes who need our assistance. The details of this match may have changed but that overriding aim remains.
“We would like to thank those supporters who have bought tickets so far, plus the individuals and groups who have demonstrated their backing in other ways. We know Franck will be cheering us on from his home in France and we look forward to having him back with us when the time is right.”
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