News
Sri Lankan Sports TV Files Complaint to Ministry of Education Over Ball Blaster 2024 Sponsorship Exclusion
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In a significant development, Sri Lankan Sports TV has officially lodged a complaint with the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, raising concerns over the abrupt removal of its sponsorship rights for the ongoing U20 Football Championship, popularly known as the Ball Blaster 2024. This decision came without prior notification to the management, who expressed both surprise and disappointment over the exclusion.
The Ministry’s Secretary acknowledged the complaint, informing Sri Lankan Sports TV management that several grievances have been filed recently against the School Football Association. These complaints, according to sources within the Ministry, have highlighted a pattern of alleged mismanagement and irregularities in handling sponsorships and event administration.
In response to these concerns, the Secretary confirmed that the matter will be directed to the Additional Secretary for an official inquiry. This investigation will consolidate the current complaint with previous reports, suggesting that a comprehensive review of the School Football Association’s practices may be forthcoming.
Sri Lankan Sports TV, a well-known supporter of youth football in Sri Lanka, has been actively involved in promoting grassroots sports across the island. The exclusion from the Ball Blaster 2024 sponsorship marks a notable setback for the network, which had invested considerable resources to cover and support the event.
Management representatives of Sri Lankan Sports TV stated, “Our commitment to developing youth sports is unwavering. We are disappointed by this unexplained decision, and we look forward to a transparent inquiry to address the issue.”
The football community and stakeholders alike will be closely watching the inquiry’s outcome, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes transparency and fair treatment for all involved parties in the promotion of youth sports in Sri Lanka.
Football
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Concludes – Semifinalists Confirmed!
The Super Eight Round of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024 (Under 20 Division 1 Boys Football Tournament) has ended on a high note, producing four standout teams that will battle for a place in the final. Below is a comprehensive look at the match results, final points tables, and key highlights from the tournament so far.
Match Results Overview
- St. Joseph’s College 4-0 Darussalam College
- Kalutara Muslim Central 2-3 Alighar National School
- Hameed Al Husseine College 1-0 Al Falah College
- Zahira College 4-0 St. Patrick’s College
- St. Joseph’s College 1-1 Alighar National School
- Darussalam College 7-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
- Al Falah College 0-3 Zahira College
- St. Patrick’s College 0-4 Hameed Al Husseine College
- Alighar National School 5-1 Darussalam College
- St. Joseph’s College 1-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
- Zahira College 2-0 Hameed Al Husseine College
- Al Falah College 3-2 St. Patrick’s College
Group A Standings
Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alighar National School | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 7 |
2 | St. Joseph’s College | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 7 |
3 | Darussalam College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 3 |
4 | Kalutara Muslim Central College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):
- Alighar National School
- St. Joseph’s College
Group B Standings
Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zahira College | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 9 |
2 | Hameed Al Husseine College | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 |
3 | Al Falah College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
4 | St. Patrick’s College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):
- Zahira College
- Hameed Al Husseine College
Summary & Semi-Final Preview
- Alighar National School and St. Joseph’s College finished level on points at the top of Group A. Their draw against each other kept the race tight, but both teams delivered strong performances in the remaining matches to secure 7 points each.
- Zahira College dominated Group B with three consecutive wins, scoring 9 goals and conceding none. Hameed Al Husseine College followed suit, showcasing solid defense and earning 6 points to claim the second semi-final berth.
- Darussalam College, Kalutara Muslim Central, Al Falah College, and St. Patrick’s College showed fighting spirit but fell short in the quest for the knockout stage.
Semi Finals
- Alighar National School will face Hameed Al Husseine College in the Semi Finals
- Zahira College will face St. Joseph’s College in the Semi Finals
The semi-finals promise high-octane clashes as the top contenders face off. Stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV for exclusive match previews, live coverage, and post-match analysis as we approach the grand finale of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025.
News
World Rugby Sets Final Deadline for Sri Lanka Rugby Governance Reforms
World Rugby has extended Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) deadline until June 15, 2025, to address its governance issues, warning that failure to comply will result in immediate sanctions, including a possible ban from international competitions.
Acknowledging the persistent efforts of Sri Lanka’s Competent Authority and Director General of Sports, Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, World Rugby remains firm on its conditions. SLR must implement a revised constitution and conduct elections within the next four months to meet international standards.
To oversee these reforms, a Working Taskforce has been formed, featuring representatives from World Rugby, Asia Rugby, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan government. Led by Asia Rugby, this task force is responsible for guiding SLR through the required changes.
The reform process consists of two key phases. The initial phase focuses on reviewing voting eligibility, finalizing constitutional amendments, and organizing a Special General Meeting (SGM). The next phase involves adopting the new constitution at the SGM, followed by elections monitored by World Rugby, Asia Rugby, and local sports authorities.
SLR has faced repeated scrutiny over governance failures, prompting multiple interventions from international rugby bodies. With this deadline set, Sri Lanka Rugby has one final opportunity to align with global governance standards and secure its future in international rugby.
Football
Sky Market Travels Joins Hands with Sri Lanka Schools’ Football
Sky Market Travels, a leading travel agency, has partnered with Sri Lanka Schools’ Football to contribute to the development of school football in the country.
As a first step, Sky Market Travels (Pvt) Ltd has joined as a sponsor for the Sri Lanka Schools’ National Championship 2024 Under-20 Division One tournament, organized by the Sri Lanka Schools’ Football Association.
This prestigious tournament, featuring 20 of Sri Lanka’s top school teams, has long been a vital platform for young players to showcase their talent at the national level. By stepping in as a sponsor, Sky Market Travels is playing a key role in supporting the future of Sri Lankan school football.
The event was attended by the President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, Jaswar Umar, the Head of the Coach Education Department and former National Team Captain, Sampath Perera, Elite Youth Manager Dudley Steinwal, Members of Schools’ Football Association, and the Managing Director of Sky Market Travels (Pvt) ltd Mohamed Faroos, the President of the Negombo Poruthota Soccer Fans Rizwan, and its Manager Nufri.
With this partnership, Sky Market Travels has taken a significant step in uplifting school football and providing aspiring young footballers with better opportunities to excel at the national level.
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