Kasun ready to serve his country

KASUN Jayasuriya National Soccer Star returned to the island after a successful stint with India's Dempo Sports Club, Bangalore. Dempo SC was the winners of the National Football League title this year. Kasun presence in the Dempo side was the main cause for their success according to reports.

Kasun an employee of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House) represents his work place in the Mercantile Soccer Association conducted A Division Championship.

He commenced his soccer career at the tender age of 13 years at Dharmadutha College, Badulla. He was under the guidance of Nimal Prematunga and Pala Wijesekera during the period in Badulla.

His brilliant soccer brought him a scholarship to St. Joseph's College, Colombo, where he improved his skill and was the number one selection for the Sri Lanka schools team in the year 1996 to tour Malaysia for the Asian Schools Soccer Championships. In 98 he was once again selected for the team to play in the Asian Junior Soccer Championships along with Chathura Maduranga presently a national player.

This year he was named the vice captain. He also became first schoolboy to be selected for the national team in the year 1998 to play in the Freedom Gold Cup.

Since then he has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka national team. Indian Bank which saw Kasun's skills on the field offered him a contract to play for the Bank in India's Premier League in 2000. There too he brought success to the Bank, but Dempo SC grabbed him for the year 2004/05 season.

This youngster who has gained lot of experience playing in India's Premier Leagues should continue to serve his country for many more years with his skills and talents put to best use. He needs everyone's support to be on the field for many more years.