India footballer Vineeth joins COVID-19 helpline centre in Kerala

A hugely popular footballer in his home state of Kerala, India and Jamshedpur FC winger C S Vineeth has joined a government helpline centre there to advice people on how to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vineeth, who has played for the national team and was a part of Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League 2019-20, was contacted by the Kerala Sports Council about the helpline in Kannur and he immediately jumped into the thick of things.

"After I came back here (in Kerala), I got a call from the Kerala Sports Council, asking whether I would like to help with the COVID-19 helpline, so I joined in," Vineeth said.

"Whatever little I could do to help during an emergency," he said in an All India Football Federation release.

The 31-year-old, who is adored by fans in Kerala, said he intends to continue working at the helpline centre till the end of the lockdown. He began working at the centre on March 28.

"The plan is that we would continue this help-line till the dangers of the Coronavirus are averted, and the lockdown comes to an end. The situation in Kerala is much-improved now, of course," the crafty winger said.

Though Vineeth and his co-workers at the helpline centre were not directly in touch with people, they are taking all the precautions.

"Of course, we are following the guidelines prescribed by the Government, while commuting to and from the call-centre, said Vineeth.

"We are provided with gloves, masks, and sanitisers, which we use quite often. But those of us working here are not exactly exposed. We all just go home, and come here."