Secretive billionaire adds Brazilian star quality to his hometown team

(REUTERS)

The floodlights are on, the stadium is packed to the rafters, and the familiar stocky figure of Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos is galloping down the left wing.

The strange thing about this scene is where it takes place – in Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan.

A chunk of mountainous land on the southern fringes of Russia, in recent years Dagestan has been known mainly for its poverty and violence. A rumbling Islamic insurgency claims almost daily victims among police and government officials.

This year, however, a billionaire originally from the region has announced a vast investment plan to help tackle poverty and instability in the republic. The centrepiece is football.

Suleiman Kerimov, a secretive businessmen with investments across many sectors, is the 118th richest man in the world according to Forbes magazine, with a fortune of $7.8bn (£4.8bn).

His company last month promised to invest more than £900m in sports facilities and infrastructure projects in Dagestan, and the most visible investment to date is Makhachkala's football club, Anzhi.

Mr Kerimov took over Anzhi in January and promised major investment. The football world was stunned as Roberto Carlos, one of the most famous players in the world, signed up for the minnows; three more Brazilians and other big-name international players were also signed.

The tiny crowds at home games suddenly became full houses, with a scramble for tickets. A new, 40,000-seat stadium is planned to be completed within four years, and will include a state-of-the-art training facility, restaurants, hotels and spas, says Alexander Udaltsov, the club's spokesman.

The goal is to qualify for Europe's top competition, the Champions League, within five years, and the team are already cementing a place in the Russian Premier League's top six.

But the even more ambitious goal, which is to use football to bring some hope and happiness to Dagestan.

"Of course, there is not a lot of fun to be had in Makhachkala," admits Mr Udaltsov.

"Mr Kerimov is very interested in giving people here something to be proud of."