Sports Ministry to boost football in rural areas

3140 matches to be organized in 314 Provincial Secretariats:

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The Sports Ministry will provide opportunities for 30 promising rural footballers to enter the national squad this year. Sports Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage said so at the Sports Ministry Auditorium recently.

“The lucky and talented younger stars will be found after a massive 3140 soccer match series that will be held covering 314 Provincial Secretariats, 10 matches in each secretarial division, commencing on October 1”, minister added.

Addressing the provincial sports directors Minister Aluthgamage further noted that the selection soccer matches have been organized by the Sports Ministry in collaboration with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. In the first step, a District level football team will be formed after the matches in Secretarial Divisions.

“The final squad of 30 players will be selected after 25 inter-district matches. Once selected for the 30-player squad, each player will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 75,000 which includes food, nutrition, medicine and other facilities.

n terms of organization procedures, an allowance of Rs 10,000 has been allocated in the provincial level while a sum of Rs 30,000 will be allowed for District level.

The finance allocation for Provincial level matches is Rs 50,000,” Minister Aluthgamage revealed.

The applications for the Provincial Secretariat level will be accepted from August 15.

The matches will commence on October 1 and will continue until the end of the month.

The finals will be held on December 15 at Sugathadasa Stadium.