Holcim cement FA Cup competition:

Ratnam - Army battle for supremacy

The keenly looked forward final is on Saturday, August 1:

Leslie Fernando

Awards

The winners will carry away the prestigious Holcim FA Cup and a cash prize of Rs. 250,000 while the runners-up will receive Rs. 100,000. Stefan Huber, the Chief Executive Officer of Holcim Lanka Limited will be the Chief Guest.

Ratnam SC the seven times winners meet Sri Lanka Army in the final of the Holcim FA Cup to be played at the redeveloped City Football League Complex Ground, Slave Island, Colombo 2 - kick off on Saturday at 3.30 p.m.

Kasun Jayasuriya - Captain - Ratnams SC	K. Krishantha Priyankara Captain - Sri Lanka Army

It will be a tough and unpredictable match. Chances are fifty-fifty. But one team has to win and lift the coveted FA Cup. Who will be the champions? Can Ratnam SC win the title for the eighth time or will Sri Lanka Army be able to carry away the trophy for the first time. Incidentally this is the first time soldiers have entered the final of the Holcim FA Cup.

On paper Ratnam SC are the stronger side despite their three key players Chathura Maduranga, B. Channa and Raumy Mohideen out of action as they are playing as professionals in Maldives, but the Sri Lanka Army will of course have a 12th player - the roaring crowd.

Ratnam SC will miss their best man in midfield Chathura Maduranga, the national captain. According to Ratnam SC coach Dudley Steinwall he is also worried about the injuries to few players. But they are a complete side possessing stamina, speed, strength and above all confidence.

What they lack is the striking ability at the right moment. They have a record of missing the easiest of chances that even had helped Saunders SC to hold them to a scoreless draw in the semi-finals. But luckily Ratnam SC beat the Price Park side 4-3 on a penalty shoot out to book a berth in the final.

Sri Lanka Army have the best defence in the current competition. Asanka de Silva, Kelum Premanayake, Priyankara Priyadarshana and the never say die Ruwan Fernando could stall the dashing Kasun Jayasuriya, strikers Sadhintha Maduranga and Malika Migara.

So much depends on Ratnam SC efficient midfield play headed by Dudley Steinwall the coach cum player and former Sri Lanka Captain, Kasun Jayasuriya, a good scorer and M.M. Ismirly a yet another good striker and an allround ball player.

Ratnam SC will probably try to restrict the movements of key strikers M. Izadeen, Nirantha Perera and Bandara Warakagoda through tight man-to-man marking by Senarath, Rangana and Shivanka.

The burden will be on Sri Lanka Army intelligent midfield player Asanka de Silva and Kelum Priyankara who might probe for the openings in the Ratnam area. One thing is certain the Ratnam SC will look for a quick goal to ease the pressure and silence the supporters. Sri Lanka Army cannot afford to play a defensive game.

The soldiers have a tendency to take their own time to settle down and build up attacks. Against the experienced Ratnam SC such a strategy could prove to be suicidal.

Teams

Ratnam SC: Kasun Jayasuriya, B. Shivanka, Thrusha Rangana, M.M. Ismirly, F. Camillus, P.S. Maduranga, Malika Migara, Dammika Senarath, M. Riswan, D. Steinwall, C. Abeysekera.

Sri Lanka Army: K.K. Priyankara, M.N.M. Izadeen, Asanka de Silva, Mohamed Murshid, K.W.S. Danushka, Nirantha Perera, Ruwan Fernando, Y. Laksitha Jayathunga, Kalum Warakagoda, K.N. Pushpakumar, Kelum Premanayake.