Increased prize money for Premier League Soccer
Bernard Perera
Sri Lanka's Premier League Soccer Championship was launched on
Thursday at the City Football League ground. The tournament which was
earlier classed as Dialog Premier League was changed as Dialog Champions
League and also with a newly designed Trophy. The Trophy too was
unveiled on this day in the presence of Dialog Mobile CEO, Supun
Weerasinghe, Chairman Competition FFSL Gamini Randeni, and Shirantha de
Zoysa, Manager Marketing, Promotions and Sports.
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Major General L.A.R. Wijetunga kicks the ball to launch the
Dialog Champions League at City Football League Ground,
Slave Island on Thursday. |
This year's launch was done on a new format with an exhibition game
between the All Stars team and the reigning Premier Champ Sri Lanka
Army. The chief guest on the occasion was Major General L.A.R. Wijetunga.
The tournament proper gets underway today with matches scheduled to
be played at different venues. The twelve teams play in two different
groups A and B. Ratnam SC in group A will confront Renown SC at City
League Ground today. Which is also the only game to be played in
Colombo. The other two games between Don Bosco SC and Sri Lanka Army
Negombo Youth SC Vs New Youngs SC are scheduled to be staged in Negombo.
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Supun Weerasinghe CEO, Dialog Mobile handing over the new
Dialog Champions Trophy to FFSL President Hurly Silveira,
also in the picture are Manager Marketing, Promotions and
Sports Chirantha de Zoysa and Gamini Randeni Chairman
Competitions FFSL. |
On Sunday too there will be matches scheduled to be played in Colombo
and Kelaniya. A total of sixty matches are planned on home and away
basis. The championships in due to reach its final by mid November. The
highlight this year will be the increase prize money awarded to winner.
The previous years prize money which stood at Rs. 500,000 is increased
to Rs. 700,000 while the runners up award too has gone up by 200,000
making to 500,000. The second and third runner up teams too are in for
good fortunes as the organisers have decided to award cash awards of Rs.
200,000 and 100,000 respectively.
Group Chief Marketing Officer Dialog Telekom stated that his company
joined hands with FFSL five years ago has brought in good results for
the sport as well as for the country at large. As such the company
decided to continue with the sponsorship for a longer period which will
help the sport to further strengthen its development. The Premier League
caught the eyes of soccer fans in the country which goes on to prove the
interest for the sport.
The CEO FFSL thanked the Dialog Telecom for it continued support
extended for the Premier League which improved tremendously during the
past decade with sponsor being very generous. This has helped player as
well as the spectators a vital factor the FFSL can be proud of as
organisers of the tournament.
The participating teams Group A - Ratnams SC, Saunders SC, Renown SC,
Jupitors SC, Air Force SC and Old Bens SC.
Group B - Negombo Youth SC, Blue Stars SC, New Youngs SC, Don Bosco
SC, Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Police.
Today's matches
Ratnam SC vs Renown SC at City League Ground
Don Bosco SC vs SL Army at Don Bosco Ground Negombo.
Negombo Youth SC vs New Youngs SC at Maris Stella Ground, Negombo. |
