AFC Under-14 Regional C’ships kick off today

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Sri Lanka will battle it out with Bhutan at CR and FC grounds, Colombo in the opening match of The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-14 Girls’ Regional Championships for South and Central Asia- 2013.

Teams from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Tajikistan and hosts Sri Lanka will compete in the tournament which will conclude on March 10. All matches will be played at CR and FC grounds except for today’s second match between India and Tajikistan which will be played at City Football Complex, Colombo.

This is the 4th consecutive year Sri Lanka is hosting the tournament with the sponsorship from Samaposha, a brand of Plenty Foods Pvt Ltd. Last year, India won the championship while Sri Lanka were placed third.

This year, local lasses are led by defender K K Madubashini Nawanjana Perera (Bomiriya MV - Kaduwela). “A pool of 18 players practiced hard for a month to get better results this year,” said assistance coach Shehan Silveira at a press briefing held at Football House yesterday.

The event was headed by match commission from AFC, Christina Ramos. The captains and officials of the participating teams also addressed media and thanked the AFC and FFSL for their excellent support.

“Everything is ready to reach the trophy this year and we hope that our lasses would do better this year”, Sri Lanka team coached Ms D M Menaka Dissanayake said.

Match schedule

Today- Bhutan Vs Sri Lanka, India Vs Tajikistan, Bangladesh Vs Iran.

March 6- Sri Lanka Vs Iran, Bangladesh Vs India, Bhutan Vs Tajikistan.

March 7- Iran Vs Bhutan, Tajikistan Vs Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Vs India.

March 9- India Vs Iran, Tajikistan Vs Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Vs Bhutan.

March 10 - Iran Vs Tajikistan, Bhutan Vs India, Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh

Sri Lanka under-14 girls football team.

Subodha Shikamani Weerarathne (Parakkramabahu M.V. - Anuradhapura), Pumi Saseepraba Weerakoon (Galenbindunuwewa M.V. - Anuradhapura), Harshani Anuradha Dissanayake (Meegahakiula N.S. - Badulla), Ishani Madushani (St. Sebastine M V - Madampe), Kusala Anuradhi Bandara Ratnayake (Maliyadeva B.M.V. - Kurunegala), Maneesha Sakilanki Weerage (Kavisigamuwa M.V. - Kurunegala), Gayathri Mandahasi Nanayakkara (Maliyadeva B.M.V. - Kurunegala), Sudari Chamindi (Vice Captain- Kavisigamuwa M.V. - Kurunegala), Oshani Iroshika Peiris (Lumbii M.V. Colombo 05), Dilasha Imasha Stephni Dias (Ave mariya Branch S. - Negombo), Srimali Maheshika Gunawardhana (Kavisigamuwa M.V. - Kurunegala), Madubashini Nawanjana Perera (Captain -Bomiriya M. V. - Kaduwela), Peshala Sewwandi Suriyarachchi (Kavisigamuwa M.V. - Kurunegala), Ishara Madhushani Karunarathna (Kudanelubewa M.V. - Anuradhapura), Paskaran Shanu (Mahayana V. - Jaffna), Buddika Sachini Kumaratunga (Maliyadeva B.M.V. - Kurunegala), P.R.Gethanjalie (St. Sebastine M. V. - Madampe), S. N.A. Kaveesha Prabavi (Vehatamahadevi BMV -Kiribathgoda)