Dialog GSM sponsored soccer : A final worth going a long way to see

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

It would be a final worth going a long way to see - the Champions of Champions trophy - soccer final between Blue Star, Kalutara and Negombo Youth under flood-dlights at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday from 6.30 p.m.

In the semi-finals at the same venue on Sunday, Blue Star shone to oust Ratnam 2-1 and in the second game under lights Negombo Youth beat Saunders 2- nil.

The Champions of Champions tourney and the Premier league are sponsored by the 'Future Today' people Dialog GSM who will have their Chief Executive Dr. Hans Wijesuriya as the Guest of Honour at the final.

An encouraging feature in these semis was the crowd participation. It was pleasing to see spectators coming in their numbers from far away Kalutara and Negombo to cheer their heroes.

Blue Star, previous winners of the Premier League and who could not retain the title this time round, took the field with a vengeance fine tuned by former Saunders and Sri Lankan striker R.M. Upul and went for the net from the first whistle.

They worked their ploys beautifully, playing to a team and the two goals they scored, in the second half through Mohammed Fauzan and Farzeen were richly deserved, considering that they were trailing 0-1 in the first half, after De Kauwe netted for Ratnam to open the score sheet.

Ratnam, the only team from football crazy Kotahena who are keeping the flame burning bright, were not their usual self, failing to consolidate on their early lead and it was a pity that they went out.

Negombo Youth excel

Negombo Youth who are challenging strongly for championship honours, played the better football to beat Saunders 2-nil in the second semi-final.

Saunders trained by the evergreen P.D. Sirsena, a wonderful ball player and striker in his time and who had recently won the Premier League title, failed to live up to expectations and it was no surprise that they failed in their attempt for the double.

Surprisingly it was sad to see the glamour boys of soccer Saunders missing their usually vociferous supporters who used to make deafening sounds, encouraging their team with constant shouts of - 'Saunders, Saunders, Saunders'. Negombo Youth strengthened with a penetrative striker from Nigeria in Gemmi Christian proved the better of the two sides and playing more aggressively stalled the glamour boys with goals in each half from Gemmi and Aliyar.

P. Pieris blew the first game and M.A Ranjith controlled the second game. Apparently there was a bit of confusion the manner in which the referees showed the yellow card. But former FIFA qualified referee and now Tournament Director, FFSL M.T. Fernando calmed things down by promising to sort it out and getting the referees to be consistent in whatever they do.

Blue Star and Negombo Youth will miss two star players in the final. They were shown the red card.