JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Argentine football champion Boca Juniors was welcomed Tuesday afternoon at Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv, by dozens of its Israeli fans. The team will play charity match against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday.

    Argentinean midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto told the press at a press conference on Tuesday evening that Boca are here to celebrate Maccabi's 100th birthday, adding that "We know we have many fans in Israel and we expected a warm welcome." Local daily the Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.

    Argentina arrived without many of their first team players and without their head coach. The post said that Boca will be guided by assistant Jorge Ribolzi, who explained on Tuesday that the squad is depleted due to part of the team and head coach Alfio Basile traveling to Central America to play in a friendly match.

    One of Boca's star striker, Martin Palermo, who did come to Israel was quoted by the post as saying that, "We know that a lot of young Israelis travel to Argentina after their army service andwatch Boca matches, and now they will have a chance to watch Argentine soccer in Israel."

    Boca has just secured the Argentine championship over the weekend. Previously, Maccabi's Press Officer Tali Leibovitz told Xinhua that the Argentine side will play the match on Thursday at Bloomfield Stadium, and depart on Friday.

    Revenues from the match will go towards scholarship funds for Israel's Ben Gurion University students.

    The Israeli Premier League season 2005/06 ended also ended on Sunday, Boca's opponent in the match, Maccabi Tel Aviv, finished the 6th in the final standings. Enditem