While neighboring nations celebrated their grassroots football achievements at the AFC Annual Awards 2023, Sri Lanka’s absence from the accolades underscored the challenges the country faces in football development. The awards, held at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University in Seoul, showcased exemplary contributions to grassroots football from Australia, India, and Vietnam, each recognized for their impressive, wide-reaching initiatives.

In contrast, Sri Lanka’s football scene remains beleaguered. Despite electing a new Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) committee in September 2023, the country has seen little progress in grassroots or technical program implementation. The FFSL did organize a “D” License coaching course, yet the lack of tournaments and competitive opportunities leaves newly certified coaches without practical experience.

While the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) “Blue Cubs” initiative targets 35 million children by 2026 and Vietnam’s Football Federation (VFF) continues to grow participation through initiatives like “Football for All,” Sri Lanka is still struggling to create sustainable programs. The contrast is especially stark given the strides taken by neighboring countries, raising concerns among local football stakeholders about Sri Lanka’s diminishing presence in the regional football landscape.

As the nation watches other countries reap the rewards of comprehensive football strategies, there is a growing call within Sri Lanka for FFSL to not only invest in coaching and certification but to also introduce competitive platforms that will give players, especially youth, the opportunity to develop their skills.

The Sri Lankan women’s football team faced a challenging campaign at the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, showing potential but ultimately exiting the tournament in the group stage. The team, trained for less than two months and with no friendly matches leading up to the tournament, competed against seasoned teams despite these setbacks.

The tournament started promisingly for Sri Lanka as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the Maldives, thanks to a debut goal by rising star Imesha. However, the momentum faltered in the subsequent matches. Facing Bhutan, the team suffered a 4-1 defeat. Their final group match against Nepal ended in a 6-0 loss, marking the end of their tournament journey.

Unlike other nations, Sri Lanka lacks domestic tournaments for women’s football, and the team’s limited preparation time highlighted this gap. With longer training and practice games against international teams, the Sri Lankan squad could have been better positioned to compete.

Many sports analysts and fans have called for increased support for women’s football in Sri Lanka, including establishing a domestic league and investing in regular training and friendly matches. The dedication shown by the Sri Lankan team, despite the odds, underscores the need for sustainable development of women’s football in the country to ensure competitive performances on the international stage.

Sri Lanka secured a vital 1-0 win over the Maldives in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024, thanks to an early goal by Nimesha, who scored in the 16th minute from a cross by Praveena. This victory keeps Sri Lanka’s hopes alive in the tournament as they eye a strong finish in the group stages.

Match Stats Breakdown:

• Full-time score: Sri Lanka 1 – 0 Maldives

• Ball possession: Sri Lanka dominated with 58%, while Maldives managed 42%.

• Total shots: Sri Lanka had 9 attempts at goal compared to Maldives’ 2.

• Shots on target: Sri Lanka was more clinical with 6 shots on target, while Maldives had just 1.

• Shots off target: Sri Lanka 3, Maldives 1.

• Corners: Sri Lanka earned 11 corners, applying consistent pressure, while Maldives only had 2.

• Fouls committed: Sri Lanka 6, Maldives 4.

• Offsides: Sri Lanka was flagged 8 times, while Maldives had 0 offsides.

• Yellow/Red Cards: Both teams displayed discipline with 0 yellow or red cards.

Key Moment:

The match was decided by a well-executed goal from Nimesha, who capitalized on a perfectly placed cross from Praveena. This crucial goal in the 16th minute set the tone for the rest of the game, as Sri Lanka controlled possession and created more scoring opportunities, while the Maldives struggled to break through Sri Lanka’s defense.

Sri Lanka’s dominance was evident in their possession, total shots, and corners, but despite the chances, the Maldives defense held firm, limiting Sri Lanka to just the one goal. The win boosts Sri Lanka’s standing in the group and sets them up for the remaining matches in the tournament.

Stay updated on the SAFF Women’s Championship and Sri Lanka’s journey here on Sri Lankan Sports TV!