Adding Colours To Life: Chennaiyin FC senior team players do their bit to fight COVID-19

In this series, Chennaiyin FC aims to highlight the good work being done by all its stakeholders in supporting the community amidst the challenging COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Chennaiyin FC’s senior team players have stepped up in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected humanity at an unprecedented level, globally. In their personal capacity and capability, the CFC first team players continue to contribute, donate, volunteer, motivate, and inspire fellow citizens during this challenging phase.

CFC’s longest serving player and Indian Football star Jeje Lalpekhlua has been one of the sportspersons contributing actively. The Mizo Sniper has set up the ‘JJ12’ charity fund that has supported over 1000 families and counting during the lockdown period, helping them monetarily and by providing essential supplies or both. Jeje has also been an inspiring presence on social media during this period, even sharing photos from a blood donation drive he participated in; donating blood at a time that blood banks could face severe shortage.

Furthermore, along with Jeje, fellow CFC players from Mizoram in Zohmingliana Ralte, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Laldinliana Renthlei and Lallianzuala Chhangte also contributed to and volunteered in a livelihood support drive conducted by the Mizo Professional Footballers Association (MPFA). It involved MPFA distributing essential food supplies to orphanages and community homes in various parts of Mizoram.

Chhangte, in addition, has also donated to task forces set up by his village and district administrations in his native Lunglei in Mizoram. He has also contributed to the PM Cares fund through the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian National Football Team.

CFC fan favourites Edwin Sydney Vanspaul and Dhanpal Ganesh have also contributed generously. Edwin, back home in his native Neyveli district, has helped provide food supplies to those in need through the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) Seniors group, of which his father is a member. Edwin and his family are also helping local small businesses and those employed in farming practices, as they have been severely affected by the lockdown.

As for Ganesh, the CFC No. 17 and his family have actively been providing food to the homeless in their North Chennai neighbourhood of Vyasarpadi, while contributing to relief initiatives being carried out in the area.

Another duo that were inseparable during the recently concluded Hero ISL campaign were Anirudh Thapa and Germanpreet Singh. Both CFC midfielders have lent a helping hand during these trying times, contributing to the PM Cares fund through the AIFF & Indian National Football Team, with Thapa also supporting local initiatives for providing relief to underprivileged sections of society in his hometown Dehradun.

Lastly, young CFC forward Rahim Ali also distributed meals and supplies among the poor in the Ichapur area in West Bengal.