Bollywood actors to play football for a cause

Pune, Feb 16 (UNI) Bollywood actors will match their soccer skills with children afflicted with AIDS in an exhibition tie, which is being held to create awareness about the dreaded disease, prior to the semi-finals of the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Invitational All India Soccer tournament that commences here from February 18.

Salman Khan and his brother Sohail, along with Ria Sen, Rema Sen, Isha Koppikar, Amrita Arora and others will take to the soccer field prior to the semi-finals in the tournament which are slated for February 25. Incidentally, the Khan family has also donated Rs 10,000 each to be presented to the tournament winners and the runners-up.

Meanwhile, the tournament has attracted participation from 28 teams, half of them are top flight teams from across the country.

The tournament will be inaugurated at the hands of Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, Abhijit Kadam Memorial Foundation (AKMF) managing trustee Vishwajit Kadam told reporters here today. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajiv Shukla will also be present for the opening ceremony, Mr Kadam said.

Mr Kadam, who is also president of the Poona District Football Association (PDFA), said the opening ceremony has been planned on the lines of the 2006 World Cup, although on a small scale.

Meanwhile, the prize money offered by the tournament has been enhanced. The winners will receive Rs 71,000 and the runners-up will receive Rs 51,000. The best goal-keeper and the best player of the tournament will receive Rs 10,000 each.

The tournament is being sponsored by the Kalyani Group of industries.

The tournament has been granted official status by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Western India Football Association (WIFA), Mr Kadam said. Five national referees from Goa will be officiating.

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyer will be the guest of honour at the finals slated for February 27.

UNI