Two-time Indian Super League champion Chennaiyin FC that has ensured their berth in the Play-off of the ongoing ISL as the sixth team with East Bengal defeat against Punjab FC has joined hands with HCL Foundation to nurture football at the grassroots level to help empower youth and community engagement, the global IT firm said on Wednesday.

Besides promoting the sport, the CFC players and staff members will participate in a tree-planting activity at a Harit afforestation site.

They will also be visiting the Kannagi Nagar Police Boys and Girls Club to interact with the Sports for Change students from the locality in south Chennai, encouraging them to pursue sports professionally.

“Through this partnership with Chennaiyin FC, we aim to harness the unparalleled power of sports in fostering inclusion, empowering youth, and driving positive social change,” said Dr Nidhi Pundhir, the vice-president of HCL Foundation.

CFC also gave 500 match tickets to students of HCL Foundation’s Sports For Change (SFC) initiative for the ISL game on April 9 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

Moreover, 20 children from HCL Foundation’s SFC program accompanied the CFC players to the venue before the match.

Select fixtures will also be live-streamed for the students of the Police Boys and Girls Clubs of Arumbakkam and Kannagi Nagar.