Munchee Trophy VB C'ship:

Number of teams to reach 5,000 mark

Bernard PERERA

The Volleyball championship organized by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation for Munchee Trophy will commence in mid January next year. This is the fifth occasion Ceylon Biscuits Ltd have come forward to sponsor the event said chairman Tournament Committee Kanchana Jayaratne at a press briefing held at the National Olympic Council Auditorium recently.

Jayaratne speaking further said the Munchee Trophy VB Tourney started with total of 169 teams five years ago. Volleyball being the national sport in Sri Lanka and efforts put in by the Federation saw it increase year by year.

Last year the number of teams touched the 4500 mark and the organizers and the sponsors who try everything possible to uplift the sport expect the number to increase further to pass the 5,000 mark said Jayaratne.

As in other tournaments conducted by the Federation it will be played in three staged viz District Secretariat level, Provincial level and the National Level for both men and women.

It was also stated that with peace achieved nearly two years ago and the schools taking upto sports in a big way in the North and East the number of entries for the tournament is to increase immensely. Specially from the Jaffna District and Trincomalee Districts. Last year too the tournament saw many clubs from North compete in this tournament and two teams from Jaffna reached the quarter final stage. With their achievement in the recent past many clubs have taken to the sport in a big way and expect the number to increase heavily.

Two teams from District level will qualify to play in the Provincial Level tourney in both categories. All these district matches are to be played in their respective district during the month of January.

The second stage is set for the month of February from which the teams qualify for the national Championship. The final staged will be played in Colombo with the final set for March 13 at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium.

Entries for the championship close on December 31 and the organizer request all interested club to send in their entries before the above mentioned date. The winners and runners up at district level and provincial level will be awarded Trophies and cash awards while there will also be special awards on offer.

The winner in the National Level Championship is to receive the Munchee Trophy and a cash award of Rs 150,000 while the runner up will receive Rs 100,000. Special cash awards and Trophies are also on offer for the national level championship.