Kit Premier League Championship 2006 kicks off today

Bernard Perera

SOCCER: The launch of the Kit Premier League Soccer Championship 2006 was held last Wednesday at the Hotel Galadari in the presence of a large gathering. The Championship is sponsored by Dialog Telekom for the fourth successive year for 'Kit' Trophy.

Nushad Perera General Manager Sales and Marketing, Dialog Telekom speaking on the occasion said "that Football Federation of Sri Lanka and Dialog got into an agreement for a three year, which brought in benefits for both parties.

My Company is looking at not only profits, profits are found through our range of customers and it has become necessary for us to give back in what ever way possible. In doing this we have been in the forefront by sponsoring many sporting events in Sri Lanka.

Sports helps community, if community is kept in good form peace to can be achieved. Peace is wanted by every one so sports has to be developed not only to win bit also to achieve peace" said Perera.

He further added that his company will look forward to keep in touch with Sri Lanka football in promoting same and its players locally.

Manilal Fernando the Chairman Management Committee thanked the sponsors for kind gesture in supporting Sri Lanka's most popular and well patronized sport. This he said has helped local soccer and its promotion. At present with recently concluded World Cup soccer fever could add more enthusiasm. This is the sport that played by the highest number of players worldwide (202 countries).

The three year combination with Dialog Telecom has given the benefits to players and the game at its highest level.

The players too have taken a keen interest as the championship attracted more enthusiasm among the spectators. This brought in the most discipline and the Federation managed to conduct last years championship smoothly" said Fernando

The Championship this year will be competed by seventeen teams, grouped as Segment 'A' and 'B'. Segment A comprise of nine teams, as the Navy team which competed last year has withdrawn due to unavoidable circumstances.

The championship which commences today with the defending Champs Negombo Youth SC taking on Police SC in Colombo is expected to come to a close in the middle of December if the matches are completed according to the schedule.

The Segment 'A' schedule has a total of seventy two games, while the Segment 'B' is packed with card of 56 games to be played by eight teams. The first game in the segment 'B' today will be between Red Sun SC and Matara SC at Bogambara stadium.

The two teams that were demoted to the segment 'B' are Java Lane SC from Slave Island and Jupiters SC from Negombo, while the two teams that got promoted to the segment 'A' are Kandy York SC and Navy SC who were placed at the top of the table, but they are skip this years championship.

The management committee has decided to allow the clubs wishing to register players from the Navy SC before July 31 as the players need a chance to keep them plying the game though their regular team is out of action. but the registration should not exceed the twenty five players said Manilal Fernando.

Winners of the Kit Premier League segment 'A' are to receive the Trophy and a cash award of Rs.500,000 while the runners up get a purse of Rs. 300,000. The segment 'B' champions are entitled to a trophy and a cash prize of Rs.300,000 and the runners up collect Rs. 200,000.

Saunders SC has won the Premier League championship on three occasions while the present holders of the trophy has won it twice and Blue Star SC has touched the plum once.

Segment 'A' : Blue Star Sports Club, Kandy York Sports Club, Negombo Youth Sport Club, Police Sports Club, Ratnam Sports Club, Renown Sports Club, Saunders Sports Club, Air Force Sports Club and Army Sports Club.

Segment 'B': Java Lane Sports Club, Jupiters Sports Club, Matara Sports Club, New Youngs Sports Club, Red Sun Sports Club, Kalutara Park Sports Club and Golden Star Sports Club.