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Babar, Miller, Shakib, and Wade to play in the fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League

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2 years ago

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Babar Azam, David Miller, Shakib Al Hassan and Mathew Wade are some of the prominent names to have been pre-signed by the franchise teams for the upcoming fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.

Pakistan captain, Babar Azam and speedster Naseem Shah have been signed up by the newly branded ‘Colombo Strikers as their two direct overseas signings, while they will also have Matheesha Pathirana and Chamika Karunaratne as their local signings.

However, it is believed the Pakistan captain is likely to be available partially for LPL since the Men in Green are expected to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan during the second week of August.

Australian wicketkeeper batter Mathew Wade will feature for Dambulla Aura alongside Lungi Ngidi in their pre-overseas singings. At the same time, the top run scorer from the last edition of the LPL-Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis are their local signings.

Former national captain Angelo Mathews joins Wanindu Hasaranga at the Kandy Falcons, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fakhar Zaman as their overseas signings.

David Miller will strengthen defending champions Jaffna Kings, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz returning as the second overseas direct signing.

Thisara Perera, the most successful captain in the tournament’s history, takes up one of the local signing slots for Jaffna Kings, along with spinner Maheesh Theekshana.

Shakib Al Hasan and Tabraiz Shamsi have been signed by Galle Gladiators as their direct international signings, while their local signings are Bhanuka Rajapaksa and white ball skipper Dasun Shanaka.

The tournament will be played in three phases, starting in Colombo before moving to Kandy, and heading back to Colombo for the knockout stage.

“The window we have received this year is slightly shorter than last year, so that’s the reason we have decided to play in two venues,” LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela said.

“There were 500-plus players who registered (on the online registration portal) which clearly indicates the faith that overseas players and player managers have in this tournament.” Dodanwela further added.
Meanwhile, in a significant improvement, this year’s tournament will conduct a player auction for the first time in its history.

The player auction of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 will be held on 11 June, making this only the second franchise competition in the world to have an auction instead of a player draft.

Accordingly, the purse for the franchises will be set at USD 01 million.

According to SLC sources, over 500 names including top players such as Andrew Fletcher, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, and Kerion Pollard have also registered through the online registration portal.

The tournament will feature five teams and will run from 30 July to 20 August at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Pre Signings:

Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana. Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne

Dambulla Aura: Mathew Wade, Kusal Mendis, Lungi Ngidi, Avishka Fernando

Jaffna Kings: David Miller, Thisara Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana

Kandy Falcons: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews

Galle Gladiators: Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka Rajapaksa

බබාර්, මිලර්, ෂකීබ් සහ වේඩ් සිවුවැනි ලංකා ප්‍රිමියර් ලීග් තරගාවලියට ක්‍රීඩා කරයි

බබාර් අසාම්, ඩේවිඩ් මිලර්, ෂකීබ් අල් හසන් සහ මැතිව් වේඩ් 2023 ලංකා ප්‍රිමියර් ලීග් (එල්පීඑල්) එළැඹෙන සිව්වන සංස්කරණය සඳහා ෆ්‍රැන්චයිස් කණ්ඩායම් විසින් පූර්ව අත්සන් කර ඇති ප්‍රමුඛ නම් කිහිපයකි.

පකිස්ථාන නායක බබාර් අසාම් සහ වේග පන්දු යවන ක්‍රීඩක නසීම් ෂා අලුතින් හංවඩු ගසා ඇති ‘කොළඹ ස්ට්‍රයිකර්ස්’ විසින් ඔවුන්ගේ සෘජු විදේශ ගිවිසුම් දෙක ලෙස අත්සන් කර ඇති අතර, මතීෂ පතිරණ සහ චාමික කරුණාරත්න ඔවුන්ගේ දේශීය ගිවිසුම්කරුවන් ලෙස ද ඇතුළත් වේ.

කෙසේ වෙතත්, අගෝස්තු දෙවන සතියේ දී Men in Green ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථානයට එරෙහිව තරඟ තුනකින් යුත් එක්දින තරඟාවලියක් ක්‍රීඩා කිරීමට අපේක්ෂා කරන බැවින් පාකිස්තාන නායකයා LPL සඳහා අර්ධ වශයෙන් ලබා ගත හැකි යැයි විශ්වාස කෙරේ.

ඕස්ට්‍රේලියානු කඩුලු රකින පිතිකරු මැතිව් වේඩ් දඹුල්ල අවුරා වෙනුවෙන් ලුංගි එන්ගිඩි සමඟින් ඔවුන්ගේ පෙර-විදේශ ගායනයේදී ක්‍රීඩා කරනු ඇත. ඒ අතරම, පසුගිය LPL තරඟාවලියේ වැඩිම ලකුණු ලාභියා – අවිශ්ක ප්‍රනාන්දු සහ කුසල් මෙන්ඩිස් ඔවුන්ගේ දේශීය ගිවිසුම්.

හිටපු ජාතික නායක ඇන්ජලෝ මැතිව්ස් වනිඳු හසරංග සමඟ මහනුවර ෆැල්කන්ස්හිදී එක්වන අතර, මුජීබ් උර් රහ්මාන් සහ ෆකාර් සමානන් ඔවුන්ගේ විදේශ ගිවිසුම් අත්සන් කර ඇත.

ඩේවිඩ් මිලර් විසින් වත්මන් ශූරයන් වන යාපනය කිංග්ස් ශක්තිමත් කරනු ඇති අතර රහ්මානුල්ලා ගුර්බාස් දෙවන විදේශීය සෘජු අත්සන් කිරීම ලෙස නැවත පැමිණේ.

තරඟාවලියේ ඉතිහාසයේ සාර්ථකම නායකයා වන තිසර පෙරේරා, දඟ පන්දු යවන මහීෂ් තීක්ෂණ සමඟින් යාපනය කිංග්ස් සඳහා දේශීය ගිවිසුම් අත්සන් කිරීමේ එක් ස්ථානයක් ගනී.

ෂකීබ් අල් හසන් සහ ටබ්‍රයිස් ෂම්සි ඔවුන්ගේ සෘජු ජාත්‍යන්තර ගිවිසුම් ලෙස Galle Gladiators විසින් අත්සන් කර ඇති අතර ඔවුන්ගේ දේශීය ගිවිසුම් භානුක රාජපක්ෂ සහ සුදු පන්දු නායක දසුන් ශානක වේ.

තරගාවලිය අදියර තුනකින් පැවැත්වෙන අතර එය මහනුවරට යාමට පෙර කොළඹින් ආරම්භ වී පිළිමළුන් පිටුදැකීමේ අදියර සඳහා කොළඹ බලා පිටත් වේ.

“මේ වසරේ අපට ලැබී ඇති ජනේලය පසුගිය වසරට වඩා මදක් අඩුයි. ඒ නිසා තමයි අපි ක්‍රීඩාංගණ දෙකක ක්‍රීඩා කරන්න තීරණය කළේ,” LPL තරඟාවලියේ අධ්‍යක්ෂ සමන්ත දොඩන්වෙල මහතා පැවසීය.

“(ඔන්ලයින් ලියාපදිංචි ද්වාරයෙහි) ලියාපදිංචි වූ ක්‍රීඩකයින් 500කට අධික සංඛ්‍යාවක් සිටි අතර, මෙම තරඟාවලිය තුළ විදේශීය ක්‍රීඩකයින් සහ ක්‍රීඩක කළමනාකරුවන් තබා ඇති විශ්වාසය පැහැදිලිව පෙන්නුම් කරයි.” දොඩන්වෙල වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසීය.
මේ අතර, සැලකිය යුතු දියුණුවක් සහිතව, මෙවර තරගාවලිය එහි ඉතිහාසයේ පළමු වරට ක්‍රීඩක වෙන්දේසියක් පවත්වනු ඇත.

Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 තරඟාවලියේ ක්‍රීඩක වෙන්දේසිය ජුනි 11 වන දින පැවැත්වීමට නියමිත අතර, මෙය ක්‍රීඩකයන්ගේ කෙටුම්පතක් වෙනුවට වෙන්දේසියක් පැවැත්වෙන ලොව දෙවන වරලත් තරඟය බවට පත් වේ.

ඒ අනුව බලයලත් ආයතන සඳහා මුදල් පසුම්බිය ඇමෙරිකානු ඩොලර් මිලියන 01ක් ලෙස නියම කෙරේ.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රිකට් ආරංචි මාර්ග පවසන පරිදි ඇන්ඩෲ ෆ්ලෙචර්, කාලෝස් බ්‍රැත්වේට්, ඩැරන් බ්‍රාවෝ සහ කෙරියන් පොලාඩ් වැනි ප්‍රමුඛ පෙළේ ක්‍රීඩකයින් ඇතුළු 500කට අධික සංඛ්‍යාවක් ද අන්තර්ජාල ලියාපදිංචි ද්වාරය හරහා ලියාපදිංචි වී ඇත.

මෙම තරඟාවලිය කණ්ඩායම් පහකින් සමන්විත වන අතර ජූලි 30 සිට අගෝස්තු 20 දක්වා R. ප්‍රේමදාස ජාත්‍යන්තර ක්‍රිකට් ක්‍රීඩාංගණයේ සහ පල්ලෙකැලේ ජාත්‍යන්තර ක්‍රිකට් ක්‍රීඩාංගණයේදී පැවැත්වේ.

පූර්ව අත්සන් කිරීම්:

කොළඹ ස්ට්‍රයිකර්ස්: බාබර් අසාම්, මතීෂ පතිරණ. නසීම් ෂා, චාමික කරුණාරත්න

දඹුල්ල අවුරා: මැතිව් වේඩ්, කුසල් මෙන්ඩිස්, ලුංගි න්ගිඩි, අවිශ්ක ප්‍රනාන්දු

යාපනය කිංග්ස්: ඩේවිඩ් මිලර්, තිසර පෙරේරා, රහ්මානුල්ලා ගුර්බාස්, මහේෂ් තීක්ෂණ

මහනුවර ෆැල්කන්ස්: මුජීබ් උර් රහ්මාන්, වනිඳු හසරංග, ෆකාර් සමාන්, ඇන්ජලෝ මැතිව්ස්

Galle Gladiators: Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka රාජපක්ෂ

பாபர், மில்லர், ஷகிப் மற்றும் வேட் ஆகியோர் லங்கா பிரீமியர் லீக்கின் நான்காவது பதிப்பில் விளையாட உள்ளனர்

பாபர் அசாம், டேவிட் மில்லர், ஷாகிப் அல் ஹசன் மற்றும் மேத்யூ வேட் ஆகியோர் லங்கா பிரீமியர் லீக் (LPL) 2023 இன் வரவிருக்கும் நான்காவது பதிப்பிற்காக உரிமையாளர் அணிகளால் முன் கையொப்பமிடப்பட்ட சில முக்கிய பெயர்கள்.

பாகிஸ்தான் அணித்தலைவர் பாபர் அஸாம் மற்றும் வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர் நசீம் ஷா ஆகியோர் புதிதாக முத்திரையிடப்பட்ட ‘கொழும்பு ஸ்டிரைக்கர்ஸ் அவர்களின் இரண்டு நேரடி வெளிநாட்டு ஒப்பந்தங்களாக ஒப்பந்தம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர், அதே சமயம் அவர்கள் மதீஷ பத்திரன மற்றும் சாமிக்க கருணாரத்ன ஆகியோரையும் உள்ளூர் ஒப்பந்தங்களாகக் கொண்டுள்ளனர்.

இருப்பினும், ஆகஸ்ட் இரண்டாவது வாரத்தில் மென் இன் கிரீன் ஆப்கானிஸ்தானுக்கு எதிராக மூன்று போட்டிகள் கொண்ட ஒருநாள் தொடரில் விளையாடும் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுவதால், பாகிஸ்தான் கேப்டன் எல்பிஎல்-க்கு ஓரளவு கிடைக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளதாக நம்பப்படுகிறது.

ஆஸ்திரேலிய விக்கெட் கீப்பர் பேட்டர் மேத்யூ வேட், தம்புல்லா ஆராவுக்காக லுங்கி என்கிடியுடன் வெளிநாட்டுக்கு முந்தைய பாடல்களில் இடம்பெறுவார். அதே நேரத்தில், LPL-ன் கடைசிப் பதிப்பில் அதிக ரன்கள் எடுத்தவர்கள்-அவிஷ்கா பெர்னாண்டோ மற்றும் குசல் மெண்டிஸ் அவர்களின் உள்ளூர் ஒப்பந்தங்கள்.

முன்னாள் தேசிய அணித்தலைவர் ஏஞ்சலோ மேத்யூஸ் வனிந்து ஹசரங்கவுடன் கண்டி ஃபால்கன்ஸில் இணைந்தார், முஜீப் உர் ரஹ்மான் மற்றும் ஃபகார் ஜமான் ஆகியோர் வெளிநாட்டு ஒப்பந்தங்களாக உள்ளனர்.

டேவிட் மில்லர் நடப்பு சாம்பியன்களான யாழ் கிங்ஸை பலப்படுத்துவார், ரஹ்மானுல்லா குர்பாஸ் இரண்டாவது வெளிநாட்டு நேரடி ஒப்பந்தமாக திரும்புவார்.

போட்டியின் வரலாற்றில் மிகவும் வெற்றிகரமான கேப்டனான திசர பெரேரா, சுழற்பந்து வீச்சாளர் மஹீஷ் தீக்ஷனாவுடன் இணைந்து யாழ்ப்பாண கிங்ஸ் அணிக்காக உள்ளூர் கையொப்பமிடும் இடங்களில் ஒன்றை எடுத்துக்கொள்கிறார்.

ஷகிப் அல் ஹசன் மற்றும் தப்ரைஸ் ஷம்சி ஆகியோர் காலி கிளாடியேட்டர்ஸால் நேரடியாக சர்வதேச ஒப்பந்தங்களாக ஒப்பந்தம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர், அதே நேரத்தில் அவர்களின் உள்ளூர் கையொப்பங்கள் பானுகா ராஜபக்ஷ மற்றும் வெள்ளை பந்து கேப்டன் தசுன் ஷனகா.

போட்டிகள் மூன்று கட்டங்களாக விளையாடப்படும், கண்டிக்கு செல்வதற்கு முன் கொழும்பில் தொடங்கி, நாக் அவுட் நிலைக்கு கொழும்பு திரும்பும்.

“கடந்த ஆண்டை விட இந்த ஆண்டு எங்களுக்கு கிடைத்த சாளரம் சற்று குறைவாக உள்ளது, எனவே நாங்கள் இரண்டு மைதானங்களில் விளையாட முடிவு செய்துள்ளோம்” என்று LPL போட்டியின் இயக்குனர் சமந்த தொடன்வெல கூறினார்.

“500-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட வீரர்கள் பதிவுசெய்துள்ளனர் (ஆன்லைன் பதிவு போர்ட்டலில்) இது இந்த போட்டியில் வெளிநாட்டு வீரர்கள் மற்றும் வீரர் மேலாளர்கள் வைத்திருக்கும் நம்பிக்கையை தெளிவாகக் குறிக்கிறது.” தொடன்வெல மேலும் தெரிவித்தார்.
இதற்கிடையில், குறிப்பிடத்தக்க முன்னேற்றத்தில், இந்த ஆண்டு போட்டி வரலாற்றில் முதல் முறையாக வீரர்கள் ஏலம் நடத்தப்படும்.

லங்கா பிரீமியர் லீக் (LPL) 2023 இன் வீரர்கள் ஏலம் ஜூன் 11 ஆம் தேதி நடைபெறும், இது உலகின் இரண்டாவது உரிமையாளரின் போட்டியாக, வீரர் வரைவுக்குப் பதிலாக ஏலம் விடப்பட்டது.

அதன்படி, உரிமையாளர்களுக்கான பர்ஸ் 01 மில்லியன் அமெரிக்க டாலர்களாக அமைக்கப்படும்.

SLC ஆதாரங்களின்படி, ஆண்ட்ரூ பிளெட்சர், கார்லோஸ் பிராத்வைட், டேரன் பிராவோ மற்றும் கெரியன் பொல்லார்ட் போன்ற முன்னணி வீரர்கள் உட்பட 500 க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பெயர்கள் ஆன்லைன் பதிவு போர்டல் மூலம் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.

ஐந்து அணிகள் பங்கேற்கும் இந்தப் போட்டியானது ஜூலை 30 முதல் ஆகஸ்ட் 20 வரை ஆர்.பிரேமதாச சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் மைதானம் மற்றும் பல்லேகல சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் மைதானத்தில் நடைபெறும்.

முன் கையொப்பங்கள்:

கொழும்பு ஸ்டிரைக்கர்ஸ்: பாபர் அசம், மதீஷா பத்திரனா. நசீம் ஷா, சாமிக்க கருணாரத்ன

தம்புள்ளை ஆரா: மேத்யூ வேட், குசல் மெண்டிஸ், லுங்கி என்கிடி, அவிஷ்க பெர்னாண்டோ

யாழ்ப்பாண கிங்ஸ்: டேவிட் மில்லர், திசர பெரேரா, ரஹ்மானுல்லா குர்பாஸ், மஹீஷ் தீக்ஷனா

கண்டி ஃபால்கன்ஸ்: முஜீப் உர் ரஹ்மான், வனிந்து ஹசரங்க, ஃபகார் ஜமான், ஏஞ்சலோ மேத்யூஸ்

காலி கிளாடியேட்டர்கள்: ஷகிப் அல் ஹசன், தசுன் ஷனகா, தப்ரைஸ் ஷம்சி, பானுகா ராஜபக்ஷ

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Football

Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 2025 Kicks Off in Grand Style!

Published

3 days ago

on

October 9, 2025

By

Colombo, October 9, 2025 – The wait is finally over! The Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 1st Eleven Football Challenge Trophy 2025 officially kicked off on October 4th with a spectacular start, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s school football journey.

Organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA), the event is proudly organized and broadcast by Sri Lankan Sports TV (SLSTV). The tournament showcases the best of young Sri Lankan football talent from across the island, with 16 leading Division I schools vying for national glory.

Tournament Overview

The competition features 16 top football schools divided into four groups (A–D), competing in 24 matches during the group stages.
Following the intense group battles, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the grand finale scheduled for November 9, 2025.

The opening day witnessed Gateway College and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo setting the tone with a thrilling curtain-raiser, while matches in Gampola, Eravur, Kalutara, and Jaffna are already electrifying local crowds with football fever.

Group Line-up

Group A

  • Zahira College, Colombo
  • Darrusalam College
  • Gampola Zahira College
  • Kingswood College, Kandy

Group B

  • Aligar Central College, Eravur
  • Kalutara Muslim Central College
  • Maristella College, Negombo
  • Royal College, Colombo

Group C

  • St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
  • St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna
  • St. Benedict’s College, Colombo
  • Gateway College

Group D

  • Hameed Al Husseinie College, Colombo
  • Al Falah College, Negombo
  • Baduriya Central College, Mawanella
  • Waddakachchi Central College, Kilinochchi

Key Fixtures

  • Oct 4: Gateway College vs St. Joseph’s College (City League, 2.00 PM)
  • Oct 6: Zahira College vs Darrusalam College (City League, 4.30 PM)
  • Oct 9: St. Benedict’s College vs Gateway College (University Grounds)
  • Oct 12: St. Patrick’s College vs St. Benedict’s College (City League, 3.30 PM)
  • Oct 19: St. Patrick’s College vs St. Joseph’s College (Jaffna Durayappa, 4.00 PM)
  • Oct 25–26: Quarter Finals
  • Nov 2: Semi Finals
  • Nov 9: 3rd Place Match & Grand Final

Proud Partners Behind the Tournament

The success of the Ball Blaster 2025 is powered by the commitment and partnership of Sri Lanka’s leading brands:

  • 🧴 Title Sponsor: Lifebuoy Bodywash – Promoting health, hygiene, and youth empowerment through sport.
  • 🥤 Refreshing Partner: Elephant House Lemonade – Keeping players and fans refreshed throughout the intense tournament.
  • ✈️ Travel Partner: Sky Market Travel – Supporting smooth team travel and logistics across the island.
  • 👕 Clothing Partner: Aacty Wear – Outfitting players, officials, and referees with professional-grade sportswear.

A Celebration of Youth Football

“The Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 2025 is not just a tournament—it’s a celebration of youth, energy, and sporting excellence,” said the organizing team of Sri Lankan Sports TV. “With the support of our sponsors and partners, we are elevating the standard of school football in Sri Lanka and inspiring the next generation of athletes.”

Watch the Action Live

Fans can experience every thrilling moment of the Ball Blaster 2025 through Sri Lankan Sports TV’s exclusive coverage, including:
🎥 Live match broadcasts
📸 Highlights and interviews
📲 Digital updates on social media

👉 Visit Sri Lankan Sports TV Online for full fixtures, results, and exclusive stories.

The Future of School Football

The Lifebuoy Bodywash Ball Blaster 2025 has already captured the hearts of fans nationwide. With passion, teamwork, and the roar of young lions on full display, the journey toward the championship promises unforgettable footballing moments that define the future of the game in Sri Lanka.

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Football

Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025: Sri Lanka’s Biggest School Football Showdown Gears Up

Published

3 weeks ago

on

September 19, 2025

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Colombo, September 19 – The countdown is on for the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 1st Eleven Football Challenge Trophy 2025, the most anticipated school football tournament of the year, set to bring together the best young footballing talent from across Sri Lanka.

Organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA), and broadcast by Sri Lankan Sports TV, the championship is expected to raise the standard of school football while creating unforgettable memories for players and fans alike.

Tournament Structure

This year’s edition will feature 16 Division 1 schools, divided into four groups of four teams. Over the course of the first round, a total of 24 matches will be played across Colombo, starting in the first week of October with a grand opening ceremony at 2:00 pm.

  • Opening Match: Hameed Al Hussaini College vs. Al Falah College, Negombo
  • Curtain Raiser: Zahira College, Colombo (defending champions) vs. Darrussaalam College, Colombo

The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals, before the Grand Finale in the first week of November. The final venue will be chosen based on the teams that qualify, ensuring equal support and excitement from school fans.

Sponsorship Partnerships

A strong line-up of sponsors is powering Ball Blaster 2025, making it a professionally executed tournament.

  • Title Sponsor – Lifebuoy: Leading the way, Lifebuoy continues to champion youth empowerment through sport, health, and hygiene, reinforcing its mission to build healthier, more active communities.
  • Refreshing Partner – Elephant House Lemonade: A timeless favorite in Sri Lankan households, Lemonade will keep players and fans refreshed as the heat of competition rises.
  • Official Travel Partner – Sky Market Travel: Supporting the smooth logistics of the event, ensuring school teams across regions can fully focus on their football journey.
  • Official Clothing Partner – Aacty Wear: Outfitting players, referees, and officials with professional, stylish gear that elevates the identity of school football and promotes local sportswear excellence.

First-Time Milestones

For the first time in history, the tournament has launched its very own official anthem, adding an extra layer of pride, passion, and identity to Ball Blaster 2025. The anthem’s lyrical video has already captured the excitement of fans, building momentum as kick-off draws near.

Furthermore, in a significant step towards supporting schools, the organizers have taken the initiative to provide all participating teams with playing kits and official kits. This move ensures equal opportunity and professionalism across the competition, uplifting both the players’ experience and the overall image of the championship.

A Celebration of Youth & Football

“The Lifebuoy Ball Blaster is not just a football tournament; it’s a celebration of youth, talent, and sportsmanship,” the organizers stated. “With the support of our valued partners Lifebuoy, Elephant House Lemonade, Sky Market Travel, and Aacty Wear, we are committed to elevating school football in Sri Lanka.”

Fans nationwide can look forward to live telecasts, highlights, and digital updates on Sri Lankan Sports TV, ensuring the energy of the matches reaches every corner of the country.

As excitement builds, one thing is clear – Ball Blaster 2025 is set to be more than just a tournament; it’s a stage for the next generation of Sri Lankan football stars to shine.

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Football

AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms

Published

2 months ago

on

August 28, 2025

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Indian football is staring at yet another international suspension as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have jointly warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ratify its long-pending constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk a complete ban from world football.

In a strongly-worded two-page letter sent on Tuesday (August 26) to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and AFC expressed “profound concern” over the failure to finalise and implement a revised constitution, a matter pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.

If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would be barred from all international competitions, while the country’s ambitious 2036 Olympic Games bid in Ahmedabad could also be thrown into uncertainty.

FIFA & AFC Ultimatum

The letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, set out three urgent requirements for the AIFF:

1. Obtain a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution.

2. Ensure full compliance with FIFA and AFC statutes.

3. Formally ratify the constitution at the next AIFF General Meeting.

Failure to comply, they warned, would trigger sanctions, including full suspension of AIFF membership.

Previous Suspension in 2022

This is not the first governance crisis to hit Indian football. In August 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF for “third-party interference” after a court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That ban lasted just two weeks, lifted only after fresh elections were held in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated football legend Bhaichung Bhutia.

Domestic Fallout – ISL in Crisis

The deadlock has already disrupted Indian football at the domestic level. The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top-tier professional league, has been put “on hold” by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s commercial partner, due to uncertainty over its Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December 2025.

At least three clubs have suspended operations or delayed salaries, while all 11 ISL clubs have warned of an “existential crisis.” Reports from FIFPRO further highlight cases of players’ contracts being terminated, leaving livelihoods at risk.

The Supreme Court of India will hear the matter again on August 28, a session that could determine the immediate future of the ISL and India’s football calendar.

What’s at Stake

If AIFF fails to meet the October deadline, India could lose:

• Participation in FIFA and AFC tournaments.

• Entry rights for national teams and clubs in international competitions.

• Momentum in its 2036 Olympics bid.

• Credibility with players, fans, and commercial partners.

For now, the football fraternity in India waits anxiously for the Supreme Court’s verdict and AIFF’s ability to steer through yet another governance storm

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