AFC Challenge Cup final round at SS from Feb. 17 to 27:

Treat for soccer starved fans

Sampath BANDARA

Sri Lanka soccer will reach a historic moment when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup final round tournament will be played in Colombo from February 17 to 27, 2010.

Asian Football Federation Senior Vice President Manilal Fernando said that a total of eight teams will participate in this prestigious tournament which will be worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The teams have been included in two groups. The hosts Sri Lanka have been grouped along with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Tajikistan.

The other group includes North Korea, India, Kirikhistan and Turkmeninstan. North Korea has also qualified to play in the up coming FIFA World Cup final which will be held in South Africa.

Sri Lanka will be hoping to field a new look side with a combination of youth and experience.

The team is strengthened with the inclusion of five promising players.

The chief guest for the finals will be Mohamed Bin Hamam who is the President of the Asian Football Federation.

Sri Lanka will also host the South Asian Football Executive Meeting in Colombo during the same period. All top Asian delegates will be participating in this event.

The Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Federation Manilal Fernando noted that they decided to make some sweeping changes in the national side as the senior players failed to produce the desired results in the recent past.

India had earlier followed the same and now they have emerged as a major force in the region.

As a result the responsibility of taking Sri Lankan soccer into the future have been provided on the shoulders of these new players with Rohana Ruwantilleke from Gampola tipped to captain the new side and Chatura Gunaratne as the vice captain.

The team will be coached by Mohammed Amanulla and Jang Jung will be his Technical Advisor.

The Sri Lanka team will tour Singapore for a training program and warm up matches from January 7 to 17 prior to the South Asian Games in Bangladesh.

Fernando further added that Mannar and Jaffna will be upgraded as two main centres for football and other activities.

The FIFA World Cup matches in South Africa will be shown live on giant screen in Jaffna with the aim of popularising the game.