ISL club Chennaiyin FC conducted a beach cleaning drive at the Marina Beach on Sunday - a joint initiative with the club's principal sponsor Apollo Tyres.

The aim was to draw attention to keeping the biggest beach in the city as clean as possible; for both humans and every other species to enjoy and coexist.

"Cleaning the beach is a way to give back to the earth in the smallest manner possible. And also help people enjoy in a cleaner and more hygienic surrounding. I am happy to be a part of this initiative by the club and Apollo Tyres," said club captain Anirudh Thapa.

Chennaiyin has a shatterproof link with the Marina Beach, evidenced by the home venue being fondly referred to as the Marina Arena by (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium), and the team known as Marina Machans by fans.

Besides Thapa, top Chennaiyin stars like Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Aakash Sangwan, Julius Duker and Kwame Karikari also attended the drive alongside the Apollo Tyres Bad Road Buddies - a motorcade that has been headlining the team's trips from the hotel to the stadium for all their home matches in the season gone by.

Head coach Thomas Brdaric and assistant coach Matko Djarmati were also present.

The players and coaches were divided into six teams, all assigned to collect as much waste as they could in the stipulated half hour. The session ended with a pledge to protect the earth and enable sustainable practices.

(except from agency)