KATHMANDU: The friendly football match between political leaders and artistes began at 15:35 pm at the Armed Police Force (APF) stadium in Halchok of Kathmandu. Inaugurating the fundraiser event, President Ram Baran Yadav handed over a ball to the referee. Naya Patrika national daily organised the event to collect funds for the April 25 earthquake-hit population across the nation. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former Prime Ministers Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai, former Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya and other leaders are in the playground for the match. Similarly, Deputy Speaker Onsari Gharti, leaders Pumpha Bhusal and Hisila Yami from political parties while Karishma Manandhar, Deepa Shree Niraula from the artistes' group are also playing the match. The team of artistes is in the red jersey while political leaders have worn the green jersey. Before start of the game, mourning was observed for a minute to condole the demise of peoples in the Gorkha Earthquake.