Holcim FA Cup kicks off today
Yasaratne GAMAGE
Holcim FA Cup 2012 organized by Sri Lanka Football Federation and
sponsored by Holcim will kick off today with qualifying round matches in
several venues in the island where 118 soccer clubs will thrive to enter
the first round in this prestigious knock out soccer tournament.
Officialy launched
|
Senior vice president of FFSL Ranjith Rodrigo receiving the 2012
Holcim FA cup from Holcim Lanka CEO Stefan Huber at the official
launch of the tournament at Hotel Galadari on Thursday. |
The official launch of the knockout tournament was held at the Hotel
Galadari on Thursday. The tournament will be held in seven rounds until
the final encounter to be be played at the end of July .
The qualifying round matches will finish tomorrow and the victorious
teams will meet different rivals in the first round matches scheduled
for May 26 and 27. Speaking at the launch the FFSL CEO Chryshantha
Perera expressed gratitude on behalf of FFSL to Holcim Lanka for
continuing their sponsorship for the 8th consecutive year.
Exciting tournament
The CEO of Holcim Lanka Stefan Huber pointed out their keenness to
support FFSL as FA cup keep everyone on their toes and the competitive
nature of the tournament give an opportunity for the fans to taste
exciting football. He further added that Holcim FA Cup has always been
the Sri Lankan version of Globally acknowledged English FA cup and the
company is happy to see more teams from remote arears taking part in the
tournament which clearly shows the interest of the common people in the
game of football.
No favourites
Soccer players, inexperienced and prominent will play in 139 clubs
have lined up in the battle for the Holcim Cup which no doubt will be
the aim of each and every team making it an exciting soccer season for
the fans.
More enthusiasm
The participation has gone up by 24 teams than last year to signal
the rising popularity of the tournament in which the first kick was made
way back in 1949. To go down memory lane it was Colombo Municipality SC
who won the championship for three consecutive years ( 1969,1970 and
1971 ) . Some well known clubs, Renown SC, SLTB , Colombo FC , SL Air
Force, Saunders, Old Bens, Java Lane and Matara City will join the
tournament in the fourth round.
closer
The 2011 Holicm FA quarterfinalist will enter the tournament at pre
quarter final stage to have an open draw while others will qualify after
the fourth round.
The seeded teams form last year are Ratnam SC, SL Navy SC, Blue Star
SC, Nandimithra SC, SL Police SC, SL Army SC , New Young's SC and Don
Bosco SC.
Experienced
Ratnam SC and Renown SC have emerged champions five times while
Saunders have won on four occasions. York SC, Old Bens, Negambo Youth
SC, SL Police SC, SL Navy SC and SL Army each grabbed the title once.
The champions will receive Rs 700000 and runners up will be awarded
Rs 500000 apart from the trophies. The quarterfinalists will be awarded
Rs 50000 each. |
