Goooooal!!! Beckham shoots for UNICEF tsunami relief campaign

England’s soccer captain David Beckham, whose famed cross-shots have made him a byword for football to affluent European fans and undernourished children in African refugee camps alike, will be shooting for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to raise money for young victims of the devastating of Indian Ocean tsunami.

Newly appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Mr. Beckham will speak out in a 30-second public service announcement to help raise funds to support urgent humanitarian aid for the next six-months for the 1.5 million children affected by the disaster who are in critical need of basic care and support.

“It is one of the proudest moments of my life to be given the role of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and I hope to play a part in supporting these children at their time of need,” the star midfielder said.

UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said she was “absolutely delighted” at his new off-field position. “The global TV appeal he has recorded will be enormously useful to help UNICEF meet the immediate survival needs of children affected by the tsunami in the short term and in the weeks and months ahead as they rebuild their lives,” she added.

A long-standing fan of UNICEF, Mr. Beckham was introduced to the agency at the Manchester United football club, which has raised over some $2 million for UNICEF’s work.