By Chia Han Keong

Come Aug 25, 28 five- a-side football teams from Singapore's major corporations will be taking part in Football With A Heart, a charity fund-raiser launched yesterday at the Singapore Recreation Club (SRC).

The event at the Padang aims to raise $250,000 to benefit a variety of causes that cater to youth at risk, people with special needs and the aged sick.

Not only will there be the five-a-side tournament, but a team comprising Members of Parliament (MPs) - led by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck - will also take on a team comprising chief executives in an exhibition match.

These CEOs are members of the Singapore Business Federation, the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Said Mr Teo, the guest of honour, at yesterday's launch: "I've often seen charity golf events, but I feel that football has the potential to engage more corporations.

"We first mooted this idea last year, and I'm glad that this unique charity event is coming to fruition."

He revealed that the MP football team - including ministers such as Minister of State for National Development and Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer and even opposition MP Pritam Singh - has been playing together about once every month.

The fund-raiser, co-organised by Singapore Pools' iShine volunteers, SRC and the Football Association of Singapore, will culminate in a gala dinner to be graced by the patron, President Tony Tan.

hankeong@sph.com.sg

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