Football tournament in Kolkata for Nepal quake relief

A unique football tournament beginning here on May 20 will see youngsters dribble around in aid of Nepal earthquake victims, an organiser said on Thursday.

Eight teams of young football players will showcase their skills in the three-day VCN Football Tournament 2015 at the Ram Lila Grounds in central Kolkata.

"This tournament is being organised not only to boost the morale of the young footballers by providing them a platform to express their love for this game and showcase their talent in true spirit of the game, but also to extend a helping hand to the earthquake victims of Nepal," said Manit Singh, director, Virtual Communication, one of the organisers.

Celebrities will be present to cheer on the players.

Singh said donations collected from sponsors and interested residents for the matches will be directed to the city mayor's funds.

The initiative is partnered by West Bengal Artists' Forum, Advatech Healthcare and VC Network.

The toll in the April 25 killer quake in the Himalayan nation, measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale, has crossed 8,000.

While the country was barely recovering from the loss, a temblor measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale hit Nepal on Tuesday, with its epicentre not far from Mount Everest -- the world's highest peak at 8,848 metres.