Zahira, Hameed Al Husseine through to quarter finals

Bernard Perera

The Hameed Al Husseine College organised All Island Invitation schools soccer tournament got under way with the host team came up with a fine performance to outplay D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo, 9 goals to 8 in the opening game at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. The tournament is sponsored by Dialog Telekom.

The game got off to a start soon after the opening ceremony attended by Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha and Minister of Petroleum A.H.M. Fowzie.

D.S.S. Soccerites played top class soccer at the beginning and within short period (three minutes) got ahead when Mohamed Irfan netted in the first goal of the tournament.

Hameed Al Husseine team though trailing settled down well moving the ball right through the first session. They collected their goal to equalise in the fourteenth minute. The equalizer coming through the boot of Mohamed Zakeel.

This equaliser by the Hameedians saw the DSS boys change their tactics with a view to take a lead. But all their efforts were thwarted by the defenders who played to a plan. In the meantime. Hameedian’s went on the attack but due to poor finishing could not get the needed goal to go ahead.

The second session saw both teams using everything in store to break the deadlock. But none could find the net during this session.

Hameedians were in full control of this session with ball in their possession for almost 65 per cent. As both teams failed to take a firm grip of the game during the stipulated time period, referee M.A. Ranjith blew the final whistle with the scores reading one all.

Referee had to use the penalty shoot out to decide the winner in this first game. Both teams made no mistakes with their five penalty kicks and once again the teams tied 6 all. Referee had to continue with the kicks further and it went onto nine penalties.

DSS kicker missed the ninth while Hameedia kicker made no mistake to bring his side’s victory and also towards the quarter final. Mohamed Rizmy of Hameed Al Husseine was adjudged as the man of the match.

Comfortable win for Zahira

Zahira, College was engaged in the second match of the playing against Dharmaraja College, Kandy. Colombo soccerties cruised to a comfortable four goals to nil victory.

It was Mohamed Fazal who made the initiative to put Zahirians in front scoring in the 14th minute. Upto this stage Rajans too displayed good soccer, but it was Zahirians who caught the eyes of every spectator for their controlled short passes. Just seven minutes later once again it was Fazal who extended the lead for Zahira.

Teams returned for lemons with the score reading in favour of the Colombo School 2-0.

Zahirians played fine soccer to prove that they are a well-combined outfit. They outplayed Rajans in all departments of the game in the first session of play.

Meanwhile Rajans too made every effort to control the goal hungry Zahiraians to a certain extent. The second session Fazal could not make any headway as he was well guarded.

M.I.M. Zameen made good use of this opportunity and fired the third goal for Zahirans mid way into the second half 3-0. Just few minutes away from the final blow from Referee Priyakara. M.C.M. Rizny extended the lead to 4-0. This victory assured the Zahirians a berth in the quarter finals.

M.N.M. Nafir was adjudged the man of the match in this game.

An organiser said that St. Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura has informed their inability to compete in this tournament at the last moment due to security reasons prevailing in the area.

The organisers have taken prompt action to invite Wesley College, Colombo to replace the vacancy created by the Anuradhapura team. Wesley College has readily agreed to play in the tourney. With the latest addition Wayamba Royal will clash with Wesley College today at 8.30 a.m. at Sugathadasa Stadium.

St. Benedict’s are scheduled to play against Maris Stella College, Negombo at 4.00 p.m.

The other two games scheduled for today are Zahira College, Gampola Vs St. Thomas’ College, Matara at 10.30 a.m. and Hindu College, Colombo Vs Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya at 2.30 p.m. all to be at the same venue.