Zahira Super 16 Soccer Sevens on October 22

Ruzaik FAROOK

The Past Prefects' Association of Zahira College, Colombo will oraganise Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s for the seventh consecutive year on Saturday, 22nd October 2011 from 8.00 am onwards at Zahira College Grounds, Maradana, Colombo. This is an inter school invitation seven a side football tournament approved by the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA). The tournament's advisory committee will consist of officials from FFSL and representatives of FIFA. It is conducted annually with the main objective of "Adding more value to youth football in Sri Lanka".

The tournament will be conducted in 2 categories, namely Cup Championship & Plate Championship. Teams will be drawn from the first round to qualify for the Cup or Plate championship while the second round will be played on a knock-out basis. To commemorate the seventh year of sevens tournament, the winners of this year's cup championship will be given a cash award of Rs 70,000 and the Winner's Trophy. Many other rewards and awards worth more than Rs 500,000 will also be on offer. In addition, all participating teams will be awarded certificates and prizes. The organizing committee is proud to announce that this is the first soccer tournament in the country which offers such cash prizes and awards at schools level.

This year for the first time a foreign team from India will be participating in this tournament. Also, 2 teams from Jaffna and Mannar will compete in the tournament to display their skills. The organizing committee expects a high standard of talent and the quality of the tournament will be increased. Also, as a unique concept, the organizing committee, this year will conduct the tournament with the theme of "Go Zahira.....Go Green..." by creating awareness among the youth "to make an effort, to save the earth by opposing environmental pollution".

Speaking at the press conference, President of the Past Prefects' Association of Zahira College, Colombo M F M Fazil said that it is a novel concept introduced by the association to the schools football arena and is happy to see it being conducted continuously since 2005.

He also thanked all the sponsors for their generous contributions towards the success of the tournament. "The Phone Company International" will be the Platinum sponsor for this event for the seventh consecutive year. While the Gold sponsors are Dialog and QP Group of Companies. The Roxette t-shirts will be the Silver sponsor. Electronic media sponsors are Derana TV, Hiru FM and Sooriyan FM. The Central Environmental Authority will join as the Green life partner. The tournament can be watched live by logging on to www.thescore.lk who is the live web broadcast partner.

The organizing committee invites all soccer enthusiasts to keep the date free to witness one of the premier schools soccer tournaments in the country where future stars will show their prowess.

The participating 16 schools will be, Ananda College; De Mazenod College, Kandana; Hameed Al Husseine College, Hindu College; Holy Cross College, Kalutara; Isipatana College; Lumbini College; Mannippai Hindu College, Jaffna; Maris Stella College, Negombo; Royal College; St Benedict's College; St Joseph's College; St Xavier's College, Mannar; Wesley College; Zahira College and Bawans Rajaji Vidhyasaram, Chennai, India.