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Neymar Poised for Santos Return After Al-Hilal Exit

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Brazilian superstar Neymar is reportedly set to return to his boyhood club, Santos, after mutually terminating his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The 32-year-old, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, is expected to sign a short-term deal with Santos, where he began his illustrious career.

Neymar’s departure from Al-Hilal marks the end of an injury-riddled stint with the club, where he made just seven appearances since joining in August 2023 for a staggering £77.6 million. His time in Saudi Arabia was marred by a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023. Despite returning briefly in late 2024, Neymar has not featured since November.

Neymar Turns Down MLS for Santos

While Major League Soccer (MLS) side Chicago Fire attempted to secure Neymar’s signature, the Brazilian forward opted to return to Santos instead. Chicago Fire had exclusive rights to negotiate with Neymar in the MLS, but the player reportedly preferred rejoining the club where he scored 136 goals in 225 matches before his 2013 move to Barcelona.

Inter Miami was also linked to Neymar, with speculation that he could reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. However, Neymar’s decision to return to Santos highlights his sentimental connection to his first club.

A Glittering Career Comes Full Circle

Neymar rose to global prominence at Santos before joining Barcelona, where he won two La Liga titles, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. In 2017, he became the world’s most expensive footballer, moving to Paris Saint-Germain for a record £200 million. During his time in Paris, Neymar secured five Ligue 1 titles and further solidified his legacy.

Following his move to Al-Hilal, Neymar expressed ambitions to “write new sporting history,” but injuries limited his impact. Now, as he prepares for a new chapter with Santos, fans eagerly await the return of one of Brazil’s greatest talents to his roots.

Stay updated with the latest football news at Sri Lankan Sports TV.

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Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Standings & Upcoming Matches Preview

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The Super Eight Round of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024 – Under 20 Division 1 Boys Football Tournament has been intense, with teams battling for a spot in the next stage.

Current Standings (After 8 Matches)

Group A

1. St. Joseph’s College – 4 points (1W, 1D, 0L) | Goals: 5-1

2. Alighar National School – 4 points (1W, 1D, 0L) | Goals: 4-1

3. Darussalam College – 3 points (1W, 0D, 1L) | Goals: 7-4

4. Kalutara Muslim Central College – 0 points (0W, 0D, 2L) | Goals: 0-10

Group B

1. Zahira College Colombo – 6 points (2W, 0D, 0L) | Goals: 7-0

2. Hameed Al Husseine College – 6 points (2W, 0D, 0L) | Goals: 5-0

3. Al Falah College Negombo – 0 points (0W, 0D, 2L) | Goals: 0-4

4. St. Patrick’s College Jaffna – 0 points (0W, 0D, 2L) | Goals: 0-8

Key Highlights So Far

• Zahira College Colombo and Hameed Al Husseine College remain unbeaten in Group B.

• St. Joseph’s College and Alighar National School are leading Group A but are closely followed by Darussalam College, making the race for the semifinals highly competitive.

• Kalutara Muslim Central College and St. Patrick’s College Jaffna are yet to score points and are struggling in their respective groups.

Upcoming Matches & Their Impact

• St. Joseph’s College vs. Alighar National School (MD-5): A potential group-decider as both teams are tied on points.

• Darussalam College vs. Kalutara Muslim Central College (MD-5): Darussalam has a chance to secure a semifinal spot with a win.

• Zahira College vs. Hameed Al Husseine College (MD-6): The top two teams in Group B will clash in a high-stakes match that could determine the group winner.

• Al Falah College vs. St. Patrick’s College (MD-6): A crucial battle for survival in Group B.

With four more matches remaining, every point counts, and teams will be looking to secure their places in the knockout stage. Stay tuned for more updates!

Follow us for match reports, results, and exclusive insights on the Sri Lanka Schools Football Championship 2025. 

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Super 8 Round Begins with Exciting Matches Amid Media Coverage Concerns

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The Super 8 round of the Sri Lanka Schools Football Championship 2025 kicked off at Kelaniya Football Grounds, featuring dominant performances and intense competition. However, despite Sri Lankan Sports TV officially requesting media coverage access, the organizers failed to respond, raising concerns regarding transparency and event management.

Matchday 1 (14th February 2025)

🔹 St. Joseph’s College 4-0 Darussalam College
St. Joseph’s College started strong with a commanding 4-0 victory over Darussalam College. R. Bright stole the show with an impressive hat-trick, leading his team to an emphatic win.

🔹 Alighar National School 3-0 Kalutara Muslim Central College (Walkover)
Kalutara Muslim Central College was unable to participate due to unforeseen circumstances, resulting in a 3-0 walkover victory for Alighar National School.

Matchday 2 (15th February 2025)

🔹 Hameed Al Husseinie College 1-0 Al Falah College
A closely contested match saw Hameed Al Husseinie College secure a 1-0 win against Al Falah College, demonstrating solid defense and tactical play.

🔹 Zahira College 4-0 St. Patrick’s College
Zahira College put on a dominant display, winning 4-0 against St. Patrick’s College. Their attacking force looked sharp, sending a strong statement for the upcoming matches.

Media Coverage Dispute

Despite Sri Lankan Sports TV’s formal request to live stream the matches, the organizers refused to provide access, citing the need for approval from FFSL. However, the legal rights for the tournament remain with Sri Lankan Sports TV, making this an unfortunate situation for fans and stakeholders eager for wider coverage.

Stay tuned for further updates on Sri Lankan Sports TV.

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Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025: Super 8 Fixtures and Grouping

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The Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025 – Under 20 Division 1 Boys’ Football Tournament has progressed to the Super 8 Round, with eight teams competing in two groups. The Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA) is conducting the tournament in collaboration with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).

Super 8 Grouping

Group A

  • Alighar National School – Eravur
  • Darussalam College – Colombo 10
  • St. Joseph’s College – Colombo 10
  • Kalutara Muslim Central College

Group B

  • Zahira College – Colombo
  • Hameed Al Husseinie College – Colombo 12
  • Al Falah College – Negombo
  • St. Patrick’s College – Jaffna

Match Venues and Schedule

The Super 8 Round matches are scheduled to be played at Kelaniya Football Complex, whereas last year’s second round matches were held at Sugathadasa Stadium under the hosting of Sri Lankan Sports TV.

Super 8 Round Fixtures

Match DayDateTimeGroupMatch
MD-114.02.2025 (Fri)8:00 AMADarussalam College vs St. Joseph’s College
14.02.2025 (Fri)3:00 PMAAlighar National School vs Kalutara Muslim Central College
MD-215.02.2025 (Sat)8:00 AMBHameed Al Husseinie College vs Al Falah College
15.02.2025 (Sat)3:00 PMBZahira College vs St. Patrick’s College
MD-317.02.2025 (Mon)8:00 AMASt. Joseph’s College vs Alighar National School
17.02.2025 (Mon)3:00 PMAKalutara Muslim Central College vs Darussalam College
MD-418.02.2025 (Tue)8:00 AMBAl Falah College vs Zahira College
18.02.2025 (Tue)3:00 PMBSt. Patrick’s College vs Hameed Al Husseinie College
MD-520.02.2025 (Thu)TBCAAlighar National School vs Darussalam College
20.02.2025 (Thu)TBCASt. Joseph’s College vs Kalutara Muslim Central College
MD-621.02.2025 (Fri)TBCBZahira College vs Hameed Al Husseinie College
21.02.2025 (Fri)TBCBAl Falah College vs St. Patrick’s College

Knockout Stage (Venue & Date TBC)

  • Semi-Final 1: Group A 1st place vs Group B 2nd place
  • Semi-Final 2: Group B 1st place vs Group A 2nd place
  • Final: Winners of Semi-Final 1 vs Winners of Semi-Final 2

Further details regarding match venues and times for the knockout stage will be announced later.

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