Schools Football Tournament begins on January 26

The All Island Inter School Invitation Football Tournament ( AIISIFT ) organized by the Group of 80s of Hameed Al Husseinie College , Colombo will be held from January 26 to February 10 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The official presentation of the sponsorship cheque was held at Hameed Al Husseinie College Auditorium recently. From left Hameed Al Husseinie College principal M J M Mansoor , Sri Lanka Schools Football Association secretary Shanthi Miltrus, president of Group 80s M H M Iqbal , Chairman of the organizing committee Lahir Salih and General Manager of Power Horn N M Jainuldeen ( main sponsor )picture by Sarath Peris

The tournament held for the sixth consecutive year has attracted 16 schools , 10 from Colombo and six from outstations.
In parallel to the schools tournament there will also be an over 40s tournament. Teams consists of veteran players from Colombo , Java Lane, Slave Island xi , Maligawaththe, Old Cooray, Old Bens, Super Star and Sunny Mount Sports Clubs have confirmed their participation.

The champions will be awarded the Hameed Al Husseinie Challenge Trophy. Apart from the trophies, medals and certificates to the champion, runner up and third place teams individual awards are on offer for the best goal keeper , highest goal scorer, most valuable player and the most popular player of the tournament.
Special awards will also be presented to the match officials and referees, media institutions for their coverage of the tournament, for students who have represented Sri Lanka Schools Football team and the National Team for the year 2012.

There are two mountain bikes for the spectators that can be won after a raffle drawn with the entrance ticket on the opening and the final day.
Participating schools- Colombo schools ( Ananda College, St Benedicts College, Hindu College, Hameed Al Husseinie College, Wesley College, Lumbini College, Royal College, Al Hikma College, T B Jayah Zahira College, Thurstan College ) outstation schools- ( St Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura, Holly Cross College- Kalutara, Al Hilala Central College- Negambo, Zahira College- Gampola, De Mazenod College- Kandana and Zahira College- Mawanella. )