Archives

Bernard Perera reporting from Vavuniya

German women soccerites from SV Hermannstein, Frankfurt tasted a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka Police soccerites in Vavuniya Football grounds on Thursday in front of a large spectator gathering. The tour which was organised by Asian German Sports Exchange Programme with the full consent of the LTTE in connection with the ongoing peace process was a success, said Dietmar Doering, Chairman of the AGSEP. The football displayed by both teams was at a very high standard and was keenly contested.

Lankan police women who toured Germany last June lost the first leg of this game 1 goal to nil playing in Germany. Lankan girls playing in the favourable conditions gave the visitors a torrid time from the first whistle. They kept on attacking the opponent's goal for nearly twenty minutes of the first session. The visitors fought back strongly in the latter part of the first half getting many scoring opportunities. The Lankan goalie Anusha Dilani saved as many as three scoring shots from the visitors. The two teams went for the break with a blank scorecard

The second half commenced and here too the teams were engaged in a ding dong battle to find the net and to take lead. In the 20th minute, Menaka Bandarigoda found the net when she received a good ball from right extreme. Seven minutes later Lankan girls went further ahead through a goal from Shamika Rajapakse.

Visiting Germans played very hard to reduce the lead, but the Lankans never allowed them to do so. Lankan women held on to the lead with a good defence.

Logeswaran refereed the game.

The chief guest was the National Red Cross Chief Jagath Abeysinghe while the other guests were K. Ganeshan GA, LTTE political leader Elilan, LTTE sports co-ordinator Imban and leading women cadres of the LTTE.

Jagath Abeysinghe speaking on the occasion said: "All communities are longing for peace, for which we all must be committed. It's time for peace. We must look forward for a long lasting peace. With this in mind I take this opportunity to thank the Asian-German Sports Exchange Program and its head Dietmar Doering for organising this most memorable match against German ladies.

I also thank the SV Hermannstein team from Frankfurt and its chairman who has come all the way from Germany to make this event a colourful one.

Bravin, the Chairman of the SV Hermannstein said it was a memorable event and wished that a long lasting peace will dawn in the near future. He thanked all who assisted them in making this tour of Sri Lanka. Sandra Moravech, Manager cum Captain was a happy lady though they lost the game. "The hospitality extended was of very high standard", she said. The girls from Sri Lanka played a better game she added.

Both teams were hosted for the breakfast at Chilaw by Senior Police Officers of the Chilaw Police Division and DIG North Central Province M. Baddewela hosted the teams to lunch and dinner at Anuradhapura.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager