Bens clinch Peace Dream Cup

BERNARD PERERA in Trincomalee

St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena won the first ever Peace Dream Cup soccer sevens championship at the McHeyzer Stadium in Trincomalee on Sunday by beating Hameed Al Husseinia College, Colombo by four goals to one.

It was Bens who made inroads and got into a vital lead through a goal scored by Dilan Victoria in the early stage of the game. This lead was further extended with two more goals coming off the boot of N. Madusanka (3-0). Lemons were taken at this stage.

Soon after the return to the field, Asela Tharanga fired in the fourth goal for the Kotahena school to take an unbeatable lead 4-0. But boys from Hameed Al Husseinia fought gallantly though they were badly placed and managed to reduce the lead with only a few minutes of play left. The solitary goal for losers came from the boot of A. M. M. Yassir.

Minister of Co-operatives M. N. Abdul Majeed who played a vital role in hosting this all island tournament here in Trincomalee was the chief guest at the final and gave away the awards.

In the morning the quarter finals and the semis were worked off. In the quarters St. Xavier’s, Mannar made the biggest upset beating the more fancied Thurstan College, Colombo three goals to nil while St. Benedict’s College after stiff competition defeated Al Hilal College, Negombo to qualify for the semis. The third quarter final saw the exit of another Colombo school Isipatana from the semis when they were beaten by Kinniya Central College also in a closely contested game.

The final quarter final saw Hameed Al Husseinia in a home and home battle between Maroons and Golds. Maroons had to bow out of the semis losing to the Gold’s team three goals to one.

The tournament which ended on a grand note was organised and conducted by Peace Dream Foundation in association with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association. The Universal Peace Foundation sponsored the tournament. All participating teams were awarded certificates.

Results:

Quarter-finals: St. Xavier’s College, Mannar beat Thurstan College, Colombo 3-1. St. Benedict’s College, Colombo beat Al Hilal College, Negombo 2-0. Kinniya Central College, Trincomalee beat Isipatana College, Colombo 2-1. Hameed Al Husseinia College ‘Golds’ beat Hameed Al Husseinia ‘Maroons’ 3-1.

Semi-finals: St. Benedict’s College beat St. Xavier’s College 4-1. Hameed Al Husseinia ‘Gold’ beat Kinniya Central 2-1.

Third place play off: St. Xavier’s College beat Kinniya Central 5-0.

Final: St. Benedict’s College beat Hameed Al Husseinia 4-1.