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.
![](z_p20-manchee.jpg)
CBL Group Managing Director Lakshman de Silva (second from
left) handing over the sponsorship to Sri Lanka Volleyball
Federation Senior Vice President Upali Hewage. |
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. |