Negombo out for third title, Ratnam looking to retain it

Holcim FA Cup Final

Bernard Perera

SOCCER: The final of the Football Federation organised Holcim FA Cup is scheduled to kick off today at 6 p.m. at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Negombo Youth Sports Club will take on the defending champion Ratnam Sports Club from Kotahena in this final.

Negombo Youth SC which is led by National Skipper Dudley Steinwall are the holders of two titles this year the Kit Premier League and the Kit Champion of champions trophy.

They will go all out to make history with three titles which none of the clubs have achieved so far in the local soccer scene. The other national players who are done yeoman services for the Negombo Club are P. C. Karunaratne and E. B. Channa. These players played a vital role in bringing their team to the final.

In the semi-final too it was these three players who put them into the victory course by scoring goods to beat Navy SC after trailing 3-1 at the lemons.

Negombo team is completely a balanced side and also they are in peak form at present and hold the advantage in this game.

Ratnam team who are defending their title will have to come up with everything store for this game today. They outplayed the one time soccer champ from Pettah the Saunders Sports Club three goals to nil.

In this game it was their strikers Chathura Maduranga and Kasun Jayasuriya combination that worked will for the side.

Today if they are to retain the Trophy these two once again will have work together to score as much as possible in the early stage to be on the lead. For this mid fielders should feed these two players well in time with good balls from which they can get the advantage.

The strong defence of Negombo Youth headed by Skipper Steinwall will be the most vital point Chathura and Kasun has to penetrate in scoring goals for his team. M. Fawamy who leads the Ratnam SC is a player who could turn the game in their favour with his cool headed play that helped the team in reaching the final.

Negombo Youth before reaching the final defeated Red Sun Sports Club Gampola 5-0, Blue Star SC Kalutara 3-2 and in the semis trained Navy SC 5 goals to 4. Meanwhile Ratnam Sports Club encountered Java Lane SC in the first game which came in favour of Ratnam after a protest was made by the Kotahena Club.

Later they defeated Police SC 5-2 and in the semis outplayed Saunders SC three goals to nil.

The winners in todays game will be awarded the Holcim FA Cup and a cash award of Rs. 250,000 while the runners-up are to collect a purse worth Rs. 100,000.

Peter Sprit the Marketing Manager Holcim Lanka Ltd will be the Chief Guest and give away the awards.