KOLKATA: In a show of solidarity for the flood-ravaged Kerala, city soccer giants Quess East Bengal raised funds from the spectators after their Calcutta Football League game against Aryan Club on Saturday night, IANS reports.
No details were on offer as to how much money was raised.
Premier League club Liverpool FC also offered its support. Liverpool CEO Peter Moore promised to help the Kerala flood victims after the team's official supporters club, the Kerala Reds, sought help.
Moore took to Twitter and posted a message, promising every possible thing they could do to help the people of the state. "Dear @KeralaReds Our international supporters liaison team will be in contact to see what we can do to help. Thank you for reaching out, and please know that all of us here @LFC are thinking about you in this time of extreme difficulty #YNWA," he wrote. Kerala, which has a huge fan base of European football in general and Liverpool in particular.
IN Kolkata meanwhile, East Bengal striker Joby Justin, who hails from Kerala, was at the forefront as the Red and Gold Brigade players held a banner which read 'Save Kerala, save humanity' and went around the entire ground to collect funds after Saturday's game which they won 3-0.
East Bengal's Laldanmawia, who was named Man of the Match, for his superb all-round show, also dedicated the award to the flood victims.
"I will remember this for my entire life. When I will become a former footballer and sitting in Kerala, this is a story I will tell my grandchildren," said Justin.
The death toll due to the devastating rains and floods increased to 370, as two more deaths were reported on Sunday with rescue operations continuing in the worst affected districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur.
Kerala is facing the heaviest rains and consequent widespread floods and destruction since 1924, which the state estimates has caused a loss of over Rs 195 billion.
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