Airtel Rising Stars start Old Trafford tour

The 12 best young footballers in the country selected through the Airtel Rising Stars programme will embark on an unforgettable tour of Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United today.

During their one week stay in England the boys will visit the Manchester United Academy, go on a tour of the Old Trafford stadium and dressing rooms, visit the Manchester United Megastore as well as attend the English Premier League match between Manchester United and the Queen’s Park Rangers played at Old Trafford.

In their leisure time they will also visit the Trafford Centre, the largest shopping centre in the United Kingdom.

The Airtel Rising Stars programme was an islandwide talent hunt at which the 12 best young footballers in the country were selected by independent coaches from Manchester United to visit Old Trafford in England for an opportunity to meet and interact with the Manchester United football team.

Under the programme, selections were held in Jaffna, Colombo, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Badulla, Kurunegala, Hatton, Kandy, Kalutara, Matara, Negombo, Kilinochchi and Kalmunai to select the best players between the ages of 15-19. After a grueling session of try outs in the 14 centres the 48 shortlisted players came to Colombo for an intensive training workshop with the Manchester United coaches which also included academic sessions on discipline, training, nutrition, practice methods as well as drills and six-a-side matches, ending with a full 11 a side match.

The Airtel Rising Stars progamme kicked off in July with the endorsement of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and with support from parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and the Tharunyata Hetak organization.

The touring youngsters:

W. Lilan Avishka Fernando
School : Thurstan College, Colombo 7
Current Sports Club: Superbeam, Kaluthara
Position : Goal Keeper
Dulip Madushanka Mendis
School : Mahinda College, Galle
Current Sports Club: -
Position : Forward
R. Saran Raj
School : Matale Hindu National College
Current Sports Club: Cameroon, Matale
Position : Midfielder
B. M. C. B. Rathnayake
School : Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala
Current Sports Club: Pelicans Sports Club
Position : Defender
A. G. Eranda Prasad
School : Hewawitharana Maha Vidyalaya
Current Sports Club: Saunders
Position : Defender
L. C. Sajith Kumara Mendis
School : Dadalla B.T.S. College, Galle
Current Sports Club: Sri Lanka Army Football Club
Position : Defender
R. A. Chathuranga Madushan
School : Vidyaloka Vidyalaya, Galle
Current Sports Club: Sri Lanka Army Football Club
Position : Defender
J. M. Niyas
School : Kinniya Al-Afza Vidyalaya, Kinniya
Current Sports Club: Sri Lanka Army Sports Club
Position : Defender
Ahamed Shashni Abdul Rahuman
School : Zahira College, Colombo 10
Current Sports Club: Colombo Football Club (CFC)
Position : Forward
H. A. Hashan Dharshaka Chandrarathne
School : Dharmaraja College, Kandy
Current Sports Club: -
Position : Midfielder
Mohamed Zarwan Johar
School : Zahira College, Colombo 10
Current Sports Club: Colombo Football Club (CFC)
Position : Forward
W. S. D. Sujan Perera
School : Holy Cross College, Kaluthara
Current Sports Club: Kaluthara Park
Position : Goal Keeper