FA Cup semis in Jaffna and Matara

Bernard PERERA

The FA Cup (Football Association Cup) the most prestigious tournament for the game of soccer was introduced to the world in the year 1871 in England has been picked up by the other soccer playing countries as well.

Sri Lanka former (Ceylon) commenced its FA Cup soccer in the year 1949 and continues to date with lot of enthusiasm.

The Fa cup in Sri Lanka is considered as the best tournament for the up and coming Clubs to make their way in to the higher levels of the game as this championship is open to all lesser known clubs too. The opportunity is their for all these clubs to enter the tournament and play against the renowned clubs and make their way to the top.

The First FA Cup tournament held in Sri Lanka saw the Saunders Sports Club from Price Park defeat Police SC one goal to nil to the record books of the game of soccer. Since then the Price park Boys have maintained a high standard of soccer and won the FA Cup Championship on 22 occasions which also stands as a record for the Club. Ratnam Sports Club from Kotahena is the next best team played in the FACup winning on occasions, while The Clombo Municipality team has won the title thrice. Their victories were made in three successive years 1969, 1970 and 1971 which too is one of the top records to be mentioned.

The FA Cup history also shows that one of Sri Lanka's strikers and former national captain PD Sirisena as one who holds a unique records during the tournament scoring the highest number goals (24) for his Club Saunders SC and also the highest number of goals in a match (6) in the year 1960 playing against Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving Mills. These two records have under his belt for the last 50 years.

Sri Lanka's FA Cup conducted by Football Federation of Sri Lanka is named as the Holcim FA Cup since 2005 as it came under the sponsorship of Holcim Lanka Limited.

The Championship held last year saw Sri Lanka Navy grab the title beating the new comer to the arena Civil Security Force which is playing under the banner Nandimithra SC.

Theis year Championship has attracted a huge number of teams (115) with many teams from the Point Pedro, Mannar and Jaffna. This is a good sign for the game of soccer in the country.

During the Championship a total of 114 matches are scheduled to be conducted in various parts of the country.

In an attempt ot popularise the sport in the nort the Foootball Federation of Sri Lanka has decided to play one of the semi finals in the Jaffna Peninsula.

This decision was arrived at by the tournament committee as there is lot enthusiasm shown by the sport loving pulic of the Jaffna Peninsula.

This game will be played at Dursaiappa stadium. Meanwhile the second semifinal is scheduled to be played in Matara Uyanwatte stadium. This too is sure to attract the public support.

The grand Holcim FA cup final is to be played in Colombo. The semi finals and final will be telecast live on Channel Eye as Sri Lanka Rupavahini has joined hands with Football Federation and Holcim Lanka Limited as their Electronic Media Partner.