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St. Joseph’s College stickers end up third at the under-20 All Island Schools Games 

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M.H.Yakeem 

St.Joseph’s College, Colombo stickers pocketed the 3rd place at the under 20 All Island Schools Hockey tournament 2023, beating Vijaya College Matale by 3 goals to 2, in an exciting encounter, organized and conducted by the Ministry of Education, played at St. Peter’s College ground, Colombo-04 last Friday.

St.Joseph’s College, Colombo stickers beat Richmond College, Galle by 4 goals to 1 in the quarter-final and lost to Kingswood College, Kandy by 3 goals to nil in the semi-final, while Vijaya College, Matale beat Ananda College, Colombo on penalty strokes ( 4/2), after the game ended in a 1 all draw and lost to St.Thomas College, Matale by 1 goal to nil in the semi-final. 

In the decider of the third place,  Induwara Jayasinghe opened the scoring within a few minutes of the start of play to give Vijaya, Matale a 1-nil lead and followed to score his second goal to make it 2-nil. St. Joseph’s College, Colombo bounced back to the game with Bright Fernando scoring the goal and at the half time, Vijaya College, Matale was leading by 2 goals to 1. In the second half of the game, both teams showcasing their skills and talents,  Bright Fernando scored his second goal for St.Joseph’s College to make it 2 all. Both teams played out their best and with few minutes left for the end of play, St.Joseph’s, Colombo went ahead with Abner Fernando scoring the goal to win this decider by 3 goals to 2 and pocket the 3rd place of the under 20 All Island Schools Games 2023. St. Joseph’s College is coached by Shane Ratnam an ex-Josephian, also the coach of the Sri-Lanka Junior Hockey team, and Kavindu Nayomal, assistant coach, who is assigned to the development and upliftment of St.Joseph’s College 

23 Teams from 9 Provinces qualified to play in this tournament,  out of the 23 teams,  17 teams took part. The teams are Kingswood College Kandy, St John’s College Jaffna,  Sandalalankawa NS, St. Thomas College Matara, Dharmadutha College Badulla,  Richmond College Galle, Parakramabahu NS Polgahawela, St. Joseph’s College Colombo,  Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa, St. Thomas College Mount Lavinia,  Uva College Badulla,  St. Thomas College Matale,  Vaddukodai College Jaffna, Vipulananda Central College Kalmunai, Vijaya College Matale,  Ananda College Colombo,  St. Aloysius College Galle.

Lahiru Weerasooriya,  T.K. Heendeniya, I R.K. Wilwalaarachchi, S. Abeykoon, Abeetha Fernando,  Ishan Kulatunga,  Kusal Thilakasiri,  D.J. Prakash, T.M.S.D. Aberathne, T.M.M D. Abeyrathne, was assigned to officiate at this tournament,  while H.M.C.H. Bandara and A.H.M. Hanafi as Technical Officers. 

St.Joseph’s College stickers comprise Keith Joshua, Bright Fernando, Abner Fernando, Adrian Fernando, Joel Sheron, Koshikan M. Pillai, Richi Victoria, Abishek Yogadeb, Tharindu Pradeeparajan, Imesh Perera, Mark Victoria, Dihen Samarasinghe, Isira Manawadu, Ravin Rathnayake,  Udana Botheju, Jarad Rex, Thilukshan Selvakumar, Jerome Fernando

Caption 

St. Joseph’s College, Colombo Hockey team.

Cricket

Inaugural ‘Battle of Green’ Set to Ignite a New School Cricket Rivalry

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Cricket enthusiasts in Mirigama and Giriulla are in for an exciting showdown as D.S. Senanayake College, Mirigama, and Wickramshila National School, Giriulla, prepare to launch their first-ever “Battle of Green” big match.

This historic encounter will take place at the Mirigama Public Grounds, marking the beginning of a thrilling annual rivalry between the two schools. Fans from both towns are expected to gather in large numbers, adding to the electric atmosphere of this inaugural clash.

The introduction of the Battle of Green is a significant milestone for school cricket in the region, providing a platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent while fostering sportsmanship and competitive spirit.

Stay tuned for match updates, player insights, and exclusive coverage on Sri Lankan Sports TV.

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Football

Sri Lankan Football in Crisis: Corruption, Mismanagement, and a Forgotten Future

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Sri Lankan football is facing an unprecedented crisis, with corruption, financial mismanagement, and neglect threatening to erase any hope for the sport’s future. Despite repeated warnings, investigations, and calls for reform, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) under its current leadership has continued to operate with impunity, ignoring the development of local players while prioritizing foreign-born recruits.

Audit Findings Ignored – Where is the Accountability?

The Ministry of Sports’ audit report uncovered multiple financial discrepancies within FFSL, yet no action has been taken to rectify them. The Finance Committee raised critical concerns, including:

  1. Unpaid Media Rights Payment of USD 10,000
    • A missing payment for SAFF Sri Lanka match media rights, with public service media confirming they never received the funds.
    • The Finance Committee instructed immediate resolution, yet no updates have been provided.
  2. Unresolved Zolo Football Purchase
    • FFSL paid LKR 12,775,000 for Zolo footballs from Ceylon Professional Sports Management (CPSM) without a financial guarantee, violating tender procedures.
    • The Finance Committee recommended either securing the footballs or recovering the funds, with escalation to the CID if unresolved. No progress has been reported.
  3. Unpaid Sponsorship Payment of USD 30,000
    • Sponsorship funds from Public Service Media (PSM) for the Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy remain unaccounted for.
    • Despite instructions to resolve the matter, FFSL has failed to provide any updates.

FFSL’s Downward Spiral – A Lost Generation of Footballers

While Sri Lanka’s football governance remains plagued by corruption, the country’s domestic football structure has completely collapsed. There have been no domestic tournaments since 2022, depriving young players of a pathway to professional football. Despite over 42,000 active school-level players across 600 schools, FFSL has failed to support grassroots development, instead using school tournaments for branding while parents bear the costs.

Rather than investing in homegrown talent, the FFSL has prioritized recruiting foreign-based players to represent Sri Lanka’s national team. The current squad is unrecognizable, with only captain Sujan Perera representing local talent. Critics argue that these foreign recruits, most of whom play in third or fourth-tier leagues abroad, are using Sri Lankan representation to boost their own careers while the nation’s domestic football stagnates.

Sri Lanka’s Footballing Reputation in Tatters

The state of Sri Lankan football reached an embarrassing low during the AFC Cup qualifiers when head coach Abdullah Almutairi received a red card—a rare and humiliating moment in international football. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s FIFA ranking has plummeted from 124th to 200th out of 207, driven by alleged embezzlement of FIFA and AFC funds under successive FFSL presidents.

Unlike successful footballing nations, which integrate foreign-origin players into domestic leagues before calling them up to the national team, Sri Lanka’s approach has been reckless and damaging. The lack of Pro License coaches for the past 30 years has further exacerbated the decline, leaving Sri Lanka lagging behind regional peers like India and the Maldives.

FFSL’s Financial Mismanagement & Political Interference

  • FFSL has failed to present audited accounts since 2022, with officials suppressing the ministry’s audit report to avoid scrutiny.
  • Stolen equipment, including Adidas footballs, bags, and boots, has been traced to top FFSL officials, including former national captains and the finance manager. CCTV footage reportedly supports these claims.
  • Despite widespread allegations, successive sports ministers have turned a blind eye, allowing FFSL officials to manipulate narratives and maintain their grip on power.
  • The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2023-2024 has been postponed until March 2025—deliberately delaying accountability measures.

Will the Government Finally Take Action?

The newly elected government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, campaigned on an anti-corruption platform. Yet, despite the Ministry of Sports uncovering serious financial mismanagement, no action has been taken to hold FFSL accountable.

The time for promises has long passed. If Sri Lanka is to salvage its footballing future, immediate intervention is needed from the government, FIFA, and relevant stakeholders. Failure to act now will not only doom the sport but also betray the thousands of young Sri Lankan footballers who still dream of wearing the national jersey.

The question remains: Will the government finally clean up the mess in Sri Lankan football, or will corruption continue to suffocate the game?

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Football

Sri Lanka Faces Thailand in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers – Live

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Sri Lanka is set to take on Thailand in a crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifier today. With history favoring Thailand in past encounters, the Sri Lankan squad will look to turn the tide and secure a positive result.

Sri Lanka has struggled in previous meetings, losing all five of their last encounters against Thailand, including a 2-0 defeat in their most recent clash in 2022. However, with a revamped squad and fresh motivation, they aim to challenge their higher-ranked opponents.

Thailand, known for its structured play and attacking prowess, will be looking to continue its dominance. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, still in the rebuilding phase, will need a strong defensive display and tactical discipline to stand a chance.

Can Sri Lanka pull off an upset and make a statement on the continental stage? Stay tuned for live updates and post-match analysis.

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