Footballers planning fund-raiser for quake victims

The Football Players Association of India (FPAI) is planning to organise a football match to raise funds for Sikkim earthquake victims, its president Bhaichung Bhutia said on Tuesday.

"The I-league (country's premier football league) is about to start and the Federation Cup is on. Subject to availability of players we would be delighted to organise a fund raising (match)," said the former Indian captain.

"Whatever (earth quake) happened is very sad and unfortunate. But things are returning to normal. Otherwise I wouldn't have been here leaving behind my family there," said Bhutia who flew to the city from Gangtok to attend a conference to announce the nominees for the Indian Football Awards.

Bhutia also said his club United Sikkim will do its bit to help the victims. "It is a happy news that all the players of United Sikkim are safe and we hope to do our bit to help the quake victims."

Former India player and current East Bengal winger Alvito D'Cunha also hoped the fund raiser will be organised. "All the players including myself will be delighted to organise any such game. We all are willing to do our part to help the quake victims."

At least 68 people have died and over 300 have been injured in the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked large parts of eastern and northern India, The high-intensity quake, which was followed by two aftershocks, Sunday evening, had its epicentre on the Sikkim-Nepal border.