Paschalidis told FourFourTwo that he was relieved that Kalantzis will be at Saturday night’s event in Sydney.

“It’s truly amazing that he is still here with us,” he said.

“He is fortunate enough that he was able to get that assistance and to be brought back four times. He knows that, and he appreciates that fact he is lucky.”

Paschalidis also revealed that former Liverpool star Craig Johnston will be in attendance at the fundraiser including former Socceroos Brett Emerton, Jim Patikas, Peter Katholos, Matildas star Chloe Logarzo, and 1974 World Cup coach Rale Rasic.

“One thing that I love about the football family is whenever there is a good cause, whenever there is something that’s going to help the game in the long term, we all unite as one,” he said.

“So many people have been behind us and a lot of them will be there on the 26th of May including so many Socceroos from different era’s and to have them all in the same room is great.”

Former Socceroo great Stan Lazaridis will also be a special guest and he revealed HOF's casue is close to him because of the tragedy that befell one of his former West Ham teammates in 2003.

“I’ve taken such a big interest because of how passionate Andy is,” he said.

“It hit close to home to me because of players that I’ve played alongside such as Marc Vivien Foe, he is someone that I played with and he unfortunately died of a heart attack.

“So, when all the players look at it and analyse it they go hang on a minute it’s real, so for me it will be great to catch up with everyone, we all have our own families and do our own things and sometimes you don’t realise how lucky you are.”

 

World Cup Celebration is taking place on Saturday 26 May at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club (20-26 Canterbury Rd, Hurlstone Park, NSW) at 7.00 pm. Special guests include Rale Rasic, Brett Emerton, and other former Socceroos from 1974 and the ‘Golden Generation’ of 2006.Tickets $150 with all profits going to HOF. Click here to purchase, or call (02) 9559 0000.