Bengaluru:Bengaluru FC on Friday announced that it had joined hands with PUMA to donate their ‘Champions 2023’ t-shirts, which remained unused after their loss in the 2023 ISL final, to underprivileged communities in the city.
In a video posted across social media, club captain Sunil Chhetri was seen joined by goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Suresh Wangjam, who donated the t-shirts to children at a community shelter in Jayanagar.
“It certainly is the first time in my career that this is happening, and I am not sure if a club has ever done it before. I am really proud that we have taken this step because we want to break the chain. Just because you lose doesn’t mean you have to discard something you made thinking you are going to be champions; especially when it can be of use to someone else,” Chhetri said.
Having patched up the four stars above the crest along with the year ‘2022-23’, as many as 150 t-shirts are now being sent to communities across Bengaluru.
Over the course of the coming week, players from BFC Soccer Schools, the club’s grassroots programme, along with club staff and supporters, will also be involved in donating these t-shirts at old-age homes, orphanages and hospitals.
“I am a big fan of sustainability, and I am very happy that we have taken this step. These are the t-shirts that we were supposed to wear, but that is fine. It says ‘champions’, and anyone can be a champion. Today, the ones who are wearing these t-shirts are the champions,” Gurpreet Singh said.
Bengaluru FC are due to fly to Kozhikode for their opening match of the 2023 Super Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, with a clash against Sreenidi Deccan FC.
