FA Cup final in Nawalapitiya, a boost for football

Hafiz MARIKAR

'We are proud of Manilal Fernando, for promoting football by bringing the FA Cup final here', said some of the the Nawalapitya football supporters after the final which was won by Navy.

Manilal is the first Sri Lankan to serve in the FIFA Executive Committee, and also in the World Cup organizing committee. Widely known as the king pin of Sri Lanka football. Manilal said that the two teams played a fantastic game and the well organized final produced entertaing football. He further added that this was one of the finest FA cup finals played in the recent past, in front of a massive crowd.

So, the Army's dreams of wining the FA cup for the second consecutive year were shattered on Saturday as the Navy side won on a penalty shoot out. Manilal said that the match was an absorbing affair with both teams playing at a rapid pace in the hot evening at Jayatilake Stadium.

The cup final played between Sri Lanka Army SC and Sri Lanka Navy SC in Nawalapitiya was a fine game of football where both sides, gave of their best and at the end the Sailors emerged as winners and pocketed the trophy and prize money of Rs. 700,000.00 and the losers received Rs. 500,000.00. The game was handled by FIFA referee Dilan Perera.

This is the second time that the Sri Lanka Navy won the FA cup. The first occasion that the sailors touched the FA Cup was in 2010.

They won it for the first time by beating Nandamithra S.C. by 2 goals to 1 in the final played at Police Park, Colombo.

At this time the Commander of the Navy was Vice Admiral Tisara Samarasinghe, a former Royal College sportsman, and was also a keen follower of rugger. He provided all facilities and also encouraged them to perform at their best.

The sailors were motivated at the highest level and players did not disappoint their superiors. That was also the year; Navy SC rugby hit the top spot.

In 2010 Navy staged a dramatic comeback into the competitive football scene after a three-year lapse due to their operational commitments in the North and East during the war.

They Infused young blood and multi-pronged talents and the Navy made steady progress throughout the key stages of the tournament due to their sheer determination and unrelenting perseverance.

They played themselves into the FA Cup semi-finals having vanquished the reigning Champions Ratnam and entered the Finals by beating much-fancied Don Bosco.

The Navy side was coached by Mahinda Palitha and the squad had players such as Ajith Kumara, Rasika Dayananda, Mahesh Savithra, Janaka Silva, Criswin Fernando, Nalaka Roshan, Dhammika Ratnayake, Nivantha Nandasiri, Pradeep Perera, Laksitha Prasad, P.D.M. Migara, Gehan Arachchi, Dilan Perera, J. Sudarshan, Subash Madusanka, Chathura Sanjeeva, Angelo Manuel, Sanjeeva Chathuranga, Susantha Weerasinghe, Sahan Somasiri, Samantha Weerasinghe, R.K. Ranga.

This time they won under the leadership of Vice- Admiral DWAS Dissanayke and have made the Sailors proud by wining the prestigious FA Cup.

This year they did well at rugby, but all their league hopes were shattered last Sunday that too at Nawalapitya when the Up-Country Lions beat them in a crucial game.

Any way Last Saturday at the same venue the Navy footballers lived up to their reputation, by winning the final.

In a classic game of football the final whistle saw the score board reading a goal each.

The Jayatilake Stadium was packed with football fans from all sections within the town and adjoining districts. All enjoyed the game as both sides played a fast open game of football.

The happiest among all would have been the Sports Minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the force behind the re- structuring and developing the Jayatilake Stadium to International standards, He was to grace the final as chief guest, but could not do so owing to election work and the guest of honor Stefan Huber had to do the honours.

The Sailors led by goal keeper Ajith Kumara, became the uncrowned kings of Sri Lanka football. With a better set of goal shooters Navy were able to score 4 goals against the Solders 3, in the tie breaker.