Win, a must for Lankans

S M Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Corr. and P B Kirindeniya Nawalapitiya Group Corr. reporting

Sri Lanka under 23 soccerites will have to win today's game against Bangladesh if they are to keep their chances alive to win the inaugural “Mahinda Rajapaksa International Football Tournament 2012” when these two teams meet at the Jayatillake Sports Complex Nawalapitiya today at 4 pm.

Sri Lanka put up a dismal performance against Maldive Islands in the ‘lung opener’ losing 0-3-a match in which they failed to put their best foot forward. There were chinks in their armoury as their defence was suspect right from the start. The Maldivians took advantage of this and romped home.

The Sri Lankans cannot be complacent in today's game as they are in a situation that Maldives and Pakistan should lose their future games, if they are to have a tilt at the coveted trophy offered for the first time by President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose vision is to take sports to the rural areas under Mahinda Chinthana and this tournament is one of those objectives which has seen the light of the day through the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage and the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.

A very colourful opening ceremony was witnessed on Monday with no less than 12 parachute jumpers from the Sri Lanka Air Force in action to the thunderous applause by the spectators who numbered over 20,000 filling the Jayatillake Stadium from early hours. Perhaps this was the first time that Nawalapitiya has seen parachute jumpers live from the skies into the playing field. Carnival atmosphere prevailed with the grounds gaily decorated with Kandyan dancers, school bands and gymnastic shows adding to the entertainment.

Nawalapitiya is known little for sports as a little soccer and even lesser amount cricket is played. But with the appointment of Mahindananda Aluthgamage as Minister of Sports vast changes has been seen to promote and develop sports in this plantation town.

The Jayatillake Park was developed into a Sports Complex with a rugby ground, swimming pool and other facilities. A star studded rugby team sponsored by Crys Bro Farms was formed and participated in the Dialog League and the Clifford Cup knock out tournament. This team finished fourth in the league and had the distinction of defeating Sri Lanka Navy and gave some anxious moments to Kandy Sports Club. This team finished ahead of established teams like CR & FC and CH & FC.

This soccer tournament at Nawalapitiya is another of the objectives of Sports Minister Aluthgamage. Many more are in store.

Maldive Islands will be firm favourites to win their game against Pakistan which will be played at 2 pm at this venue. In the opening Maldivians gave a sparkling display and Pakistan squeezed through to a 1-0 win in the dying stages of the game.

The teams for the Sri Lanka – Bangladesh match:

Sri Lanka: Nipuna Devinda Bandara (Captain), H P Charles, M M M Sameer, M K M Hakeem, M N M Fasal, L H K Ishan, Eranda Prasad, Chathuranga Sanjeewa, M S M Farhard, Sujan Perera, L M C S Kumara, H D M De Silva, A L M Aleem, H A H D Chandraratne, A M Prasanna, B C B Ratnayake, M C Chameera, A W T Eranga, S M Waseem.

Bangladesh (from) Makusudur Rahman, M D Linken, Chowdhury Munna, Kaste Kumar Bosh, U Kumar Bonik, Mesbabul Haque, Alamgir Kabir, S Alam Shahed, M Hossain Bhuiya, S Hussain Rony, T Alam Towhid, Shawkat Russel, Rayhan Hassan, Yeasin Khan, Jamal Hossain.