Hameed Al Husseini invitation schools soccer tourney from Jan. 3

Bernard PERERA

The second annual invitation schools soccer championship organised by the 80 group of Hameed Al Husseini College, Colombo will be conducted from January 3rd to 11, 2009. This years tournament is lavishly sponsored by producers of ‘Reborn’ Stafford Garment Industries (Pvt. Ltd).

M.Z. Farook the adviser to Sri Lanka Schools Football Association addressing the media regarding the tourney said that the organisers have invited twelve leading soccer playing schools to compete. Out of this 9 teams have been selected from schools Division I while the other three teams were selected from Div. II and III.

He said that this tourney gives the opportunity to young soccerites to play at Sugathadasa Stadium the best ground available in Sri Lanka for soccer. This will give an encouragement specially to outstation soccerities to continue with the game, which is the vital part to keep the players with the game. This could also improve the standard of the game.

Soccerities from school are the future players for premier clubs and the for the national team. This sort of tourney’s will give these youngsters the chance to groom themselves for the future of Sri Lanka soccer. As such we the organisers want to maintain the highest level soccer being played by these youngsters while giving the basics to be disciplined players for the future which could give a boost to the sport at large.

He further said we had to arrange the programme in a very short period which also happened to be the vacation for schools. This resulted in failing to attract a team from the Central Province. According to Farook all matches had to be conducted on holiday’s to avoid the clash with children studies, due to this factor we are compelled to play six matches on second day Jan. 4.

Last year’s winner Zahira College, Colombo and the runner-up De Mazenod College, Kandana will play in bottom group. This year the organisers have also included the third place play off match to be played before the final on Jan. 11.

M. Azath Salley the President of State Services Football Association addressing the gathering said that soccer should be promoted to reach standard of cricket in Sri Lanka. Towards this end the 80 group of Hameed Al Husseini have taken a great step which should be appreciated by all soccer loving public in this country.

Deputy Principal M.A.C. Faleel and President of the 80 group Ramzan Ibrahim received the sponsorship cheque from Murshid Mowlana Brand and Sales Manager for ‘Reborn’.

The participating teams are Ananda College, Colombo, Zahira College, Colombo, St. Beendict’s College, Hindu College, Colombo, D.S. Senananayaka College, Colombo, Hameed Al Husseini College, De Mazeneed College, Kandana, Wesley College, Maris Stealla College, St. Thomas College, Matara, Holy Cross College, Kalutara, Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya, Wayamba Royal, Al Hilal College, Isipatana College and Lumbini College.

Minister A.H.M. Fowzie will be the chief guest on the opening day. The first encounter commences at 3.30 p.m. with Hameed Al Husseini College meeting Isiptana College which will be followed by the second game between Ananda College and Al Hilal College, Negombo.