News
First-anniversary celebration of MG Football
MG Football Media Unit releases a Media Release on their first-year celebration.

MG Football proudly announces the celebration of their 1st anniversary on a grand scale with the participation of Legendary Sri Lankan Footballers.
MG Football is an Online Football Workshop organizer who is organizing workshops for Sri Lankan footballers Worldwide. This was done by the well-known football Coach Deshabandu Mahinda Galagedara who is the Head Coach of the Sri Lankan Police Football Team.
These workshops were organized free of charge to develop the skills of the Sri Lankan footballers. This is the first and ever online workshop for football done in Sri Lanka and it was mainly started during the COVID pandemic to overcome to reduce the physical interaction during workshops.
Further, we are glad to inform you that, we have organized 12 online workshops during last year and have evaluated all the participants through a Q & A session, and awarded more than 600 gifts worth millions to the completed participants.
Therefore, we have decided to celebrate the 1st anniversary by inviting the following football legends to motivate the footballers from 30th August to 5th September 2021
- Piyadasa Perera – 30th August 2021
- Subahini Hasimdeen – 31st August 2021
- Clement De Silva – 1st Sepetember 2021
- Sumith Walpola – 2nd September 2021
- Nimal Wijesekara – 3rd September 2021
- Ashoka Ravindra – 4th September 2021
Furthermore, we have decided to bring down the following sports legends who have contributed to the motherland with their legendary performance.
- Sugath Thilakaratne – Athletic
- Sampath Perea – Football
- Anurudha Rathnayake – Boxing
- Nelka Shiromala – Boxing Referee
We are in the process of getting more legends to glamour this event which will be notified sooner.
Meanwhile, we have made arrangements to provide more than 100 valuable gifts such as Colour TVs, Digital Ipod, Resistant Bands, and much more for the participants of these events.
This event is organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Director-General. Amal Edirisuriya and Director General Sports Medicine Dr. Lal Ekanayake.
We are thankful for the Sponsorsors who are supported to make this event successful and we kindly request you to take this news to your prestigious media institutions.
News from MG Football Media Unit
News
Lifebouy Ball Blaster 2025 – Group B Wide Open as Royal, Aligar & Kalutara Battle for Top Spot
The race for qualification in Group B of the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Tournament is heating up, with three top schools still in contention for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Royal College Leads the Pack
Royal College, Colombo currently sits on top of Group B after an impressive 5-0 victory, showcasing both dominance and attacking flair. With two crucial matches left, Royal remains the favorite to finish as group leaders — but the battle is far from over.
Aligar Central’s Mixed Fortunes
Aligar Central College, last year’s runners-up and inaugural Ball Blaster champions, have had a mixed campaign so far. After one win and one narrow loss — the latter coming from an unfortunate own goal — the team still remains firmly in the race for qualification.
Kalutara Muslim Still in the Hunt
Kalutara Muslim Central College, one of the most competitive sides in this year’s tournament, has only played one game so far — securing a 1-0 win. With two matches still to play, they remain a real threat to the current table leaders.
Maris Stella Struggling for Form
Maris Stella College, on the other hand, has had a tough run, losing both their opening fixtures and conceding nine goals in the process. They will now look to finish strong and disrupt the group standings in the remaining matches.
With the Group B stage still wide open, the coming matchdays promise thrilling encounters as Royal, Aligar, and Kalutara fight for the top two quarterfinal spots in the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025.
Football
Sri Lanka Climbs FIFA Rankings — But Can “Origin-Only” Strategy Deliver Long-Term Success?
Sri Lanka’s national football team has achieved a notable improvement in the latest FIFA World Rankings, marking a rare moment of positivity for the sport in the country. The team, now sitting at 193rd, has shown visible progress — yet, this rise raises important questions about the long-term future of Sri Lankan football.

Origin Players Driving Success
Out of the starting 11 players, 10 are foreign-born origin players, with only the goalkeeper captain being Sri Lankan-born. While this approach has strengthened the squad and delivered quick international results, it highlights a deeper issue — the lack of local football development and competitive tournaments at home.
In the absence of consistent domestic competitions, Sri Lanka’s international performances are being carried by overseas talent. This has sparked debate within the football community: is the FFSL relying too heavily on short-term solutions rather than investing in sustainable growth?
Absence of Local Structure
For the past few years, no major national tournaments have been held at the senior level. The lack of a structured league and proper youth pathway continues to limit opportunities for local players. Without regular match experience and grassroots exposure, emerging talent struggles to reach the international stage.
Glimpses of Hope – Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 & Grassroots Push
However, there are signs of renewal. Across the country, small-scale academies tournaments are taking shape — often organized with assistance from the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
Among the most significant initiatives is the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Tournament, organised in collaboration with Sri Lankan Sports TV and the School Football Association. Although it faced early administrative hurdles with FFSL, the event was successfully negotiated and is now underway as planned, providing a crucial platform for school-level footballers to showcase their potential.
This partnership-driven approach reflects a growing understanding that grassroots and school tournaments are the foundation for long-term success. If nurtured properly, they could help produce the next generation of Sri Lankan-born football stars — reducing the dependency on foreign-origin players in the future.
The Way Forward
While the ranking rise brings optimism, experts caution that sustainable progress will only come through systematic development, transparent governance, and strong youth structures. The FFSL must focus on building a local ecosystem that nurtures homegrown talent, ensuring that the future of Sri Lankan football is not built solely on temporary fixes but on lasting foundations.
Football
Zahira College Colombo Dominate Group A — Gampola Zahira and Darussalam Battle for Second Spot
The Group A stage of the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Championship is heating up, with Zahira College Colombo emerging as the clear frontrunner after an unbeaten run in their first two matches. With six points and an impressive 8–2 goal difference, Zahira are well on course to top the group and secure a direct berth to the quarterfinals.
Zahira’s attacking flair and tactical balance have made them one of the most complete teams in this year’s tournament. Their consistent performances have set the tone in Group A, making them strong contenders for the overall title.
Behind them, the battle for the second qualifying spot is intensifying between Darussalam College and Gampola Zahira College. Both teams currently sit on three points each, but Darussalam have played one match more, leaving Gampola Zahira with a crucial game in hand.
Kingswood College, despite showing moments of promise, have struggled to convert opportunities into results and remain winless after three outings.
With two group matches remaining, the race for quarterfinal qualification is expected to go down to the wire. Zahira Colombo, the current Group A leader, will likely face Vaddakkachchi Central College (D2) from Group D in the knockout stage, while the second-placed team will meet Hameed Al Husseinie College (D1) — setting up thrilling contests ahead.
School | M | W | L | D | GS | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zahira College, Colombo | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 6 |
Gampola Zahira College | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
Darussalam College | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
Kingswood College | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 0 |



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