Sunil Chhetri, Bengaluru, Chennaiyin join Gokulam Kerala's cause to support Dhanarajan's family
SUNDAY'S MATCH BETWEEN Gokulam Kerala FC and Churchill Brothers is not only significant for the potential role it may play in the I-League 2019-20 title race but also for an important cause.
To be held at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Calicut, on Sunday night at 7 pm, the match has been chosen by the host club to raise money for the family of Dhanarajan Radhakrishnan, the former top division football player who tragically passed away while playing a sevens' football game in Malappuram. The proceeds from the ticket sales, the club announced, would be donated to the former player's family.
We will be donating the ticket sales revenue from the 26th match against @Churchill_Goa to Dhanarajan’s family! 🧡
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) January 22, 2020
Come, donate, show the family what this beautiful sport can do. 🙏🏾#Malabarians #GKFC #HeroILeague pic.twitter.com/LtDycO1MEG
The Malabarians announced the initiative earlier this week. It wasn't long before Bengaluru FC, responding to a request by the official GKFC Twitter handle, decided to amplify the cause.
We've always asked you to flood the Fortress, but this is as good a reason as any for us to ask you to flood the EMS Corporation Stadium, in Calicut! #WeAreBFC #RoomForMore https://t.co/1FqQaZBAWL
— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) January 24, 2020
BFC and Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri decided to personally pitch in not long after. He bought 220 tickets; giving them away to some local NGOs.
We are grateful to @chetrisunil11, who bought 220 tickets for our next match against @Churchill_Goa. The club will be handing the tickets to the NGOs.
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) January 24, 2020
Thank you Captain, your contribution to Indian football on and off the field is unmatched. 🧡#SunilChetri #TicketForACause pic.twitter.com/GpSNiT0mF6
A day ahead of the match, Chennaiyin FC, too, purchased tickets for the match to contribute to the pool of donations.
Another team from South joins hand with us for the noble cause!❤️@ChennaiyinFC ❤️#GKFC #Malabarians #ticketforacause #ILeague pic.twitter.com/yw2TOSAbnN
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) January 25, 2020
The match itself is going to be an interesting affair; both Gokulam Kerala FC and Churchill Brothers are on 10 points after playing 7 and 6 matches respectively. Whoever wins on Sunday night will get a leg-up in the title race while the loser will fall behind the leading pack, for now. Both clubs are coming off a loss, and are eager to return to the winners' column.
Being a holiday fixture in the evening, the match was always expected to attract much more fans than usual; which makes GKFC's decision to put up the gate revenue for donation more appreciable and effective for the cause they are championing.
