Kotte FL worthy of honour

"It was one of my first tasks to adjudge the Kotte FL as the best league for the year 2004. The committee that sat to elect the best League was convinced that the Kotte FL had fared exceptionally well, both on and off the field during the year under review. Hence, its award was worthy of emulation", the President Football Federation of Sri Lanka Thilina Panditharatna speaking at a simple, but impressive ceremony held to celebrate Kotte FL's award winning feat at the Lions Club International District 306 Reception Hall, Etul Kotte, Kotte, recently.

He said that recently the FIFA, world governing body for football had given a financial grant to the FFSL, thanks to the efforts made by Manilal Fernando, Chairman, Organising Committee of the FFSL."

"We hope to decentralise the administration of the FFSL, to build those ravaged leagues struck by the tsunami and also to harness the talent of the youth in the outstations. We also hope to build up a back-up squad, in the form of a national 'B' squad to strengthen the present national football team.

"I am a resident of the Kotte electorate and I feel that I had not done sufficient enough to develop football in this area. I am proud of the achievement of the Kotte FL to become the Best Football league for the Year 2004", said V. Manilal Fernando, Chairman, Organising Committee of the FFSL and a Senior Vice president of the AFC. We adopted a certain criteria in choosing the best football league for 2004. Taking into consideration the work done by the Kotte FL to complete all its tournaments and the way they handled the tsunami-stricken children had impressed the selection committee to award this title to Kotte FL, said Fernando. "Kotte FL needs the benevolence of corporate sponsors, the corporates in the Kotte area should give a hand to this league to further their future endeavours and they really deserve same," he said.

"Football has become the best organised sports in the world today and this sport truly helps to wean away our youth indulging in nefarious activities, like becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, I, on my part will speak to some of the top corporates in Kotte and its environ and ensure that this league is sponsored to the maximum. I'll be the first to sponsor the league for the year 2006 and I'll spend dollar to dollar to see that this promises become a reality", he went on.

Speaking on the British Lions, which club is now affiliated to the Kotte FL, Fernando said that every possibility to help this English team should be exploited and the British Lions must be encouraged to be a part and parcel of the Kotte FL in the next season. He suggested DIG K.P.P. Pathirana, President of Kotte FL made the welcome address, the General Secretary of the Kotte FL, Telesphor Dias delivered the vote of thanks and also traced the 53 year history of league.

While media co-ordinator FL sports journalist Gamini Perera of "The Island" was presented with a token of appreciation for the valuable services rendered by him towards helping Kotte FL to be chosen the best football league for the year 2004. Telesphor Dias General Secretary, Bernard Perera JP, J.W. Nihal, K.D.W. Perera were presented service awards for 35 years of service to football in Kotte and its environ, sponsored by Rajendran and Upali Gunasena.