The 2017 Under 14 Interschool Football Championship sponsored by Samaposha was held for the 9th consecutive year at the Race Course Grounds recently with Over 10,000 school children from schools across the island vying for the coveted trophy. 548 schools participated in the event. There were 30 boys’ teams and 21 girls’ teams. Qualifying matches were held at 5 locations in Colombo.
Pandateruppu Girls High School in Jaffna emerged as the Champion with Maliyadewa Balika in Kurunegala with 2-0 becoming the first Runner Up and Mahajana College, Jaffna, the second Runner Up. The Best Player from the Girls Teams was Krishanthi Rajendra from Pandateruppu Girls High School while the Best Goal Keeper from the Girls Teams was Sharmila Suriyakumar, also from the Champion team.
The final nail-biting 3-0 Boys Final match was played by St Joseph’s College Colombo 10 against Gateway International College, Rajagiriya with St Joseph’s clinching the Championship. The First Runner Up was Gateway International in Rajagiriya and the second Runner up was De Mazenod College, Kandana. The Best Player from the Boys teams was Pathum Gimhana from St, Joseph College and The Best Goal Keeper from the Boys teams was Thisula De Silva from Gateway International College.
The Championship achieved several important milestones. For the first time an International school, Gateway International came into the finals. Another record achievement was from Maliyadewa Balika in Kurunegala which came into the finals for the sixth time in the history of Samaposha School Football Championship Finals.
Shammi Karunaratne, Director/CEO of Plenty Foods commented “As a company dedicated to encouraging young people to achieve excellence in sports and enjoy an active lifestyle that ensures good health and fitness, we take great pride in sponsoring the under 14 interschool Football Championship for the ninth successive year and are pleased to congratulate this year’s champions. An international college such as Gateway making its presence felt in the championship is also a significant achievement.”
The Chairman of the Football Federation, Anura De Silva said “We greatly appreciate the important role CBL plays as a long standing sponsor. This has contributed significantly to uplifting sports in Sri Lanka and inspiring school children to focus of sports is an important step in building a healthy nation.”
The Senior Managers at CBL Penty Foods who were present as the sponsor at the final awards presentation included Shammi Karunaratne – Director / CEO, together with Theja Peiris – COO, Jayanga Perera – General Manager, Marketing, V.P. Govinna – Brand Manager and Sisira Gunawardane – Promotions Manager.
Officials who graced the occasion included Anura De Silva – Chairman of the Football Federation, Sri Lanka, Colonel Manjula Kariyawasam – Director of Sports in the Education Ministry, U.S Jashwar – Secretary of the Football Federation, Sri Lanka, Athula Jayawardena – Deputy Director of Sports in the Education Ministry and N.S.B Dissanayake – Secretary of the School Football Association, Sri Lanka.
As a breakfast cereal that promotes health and fitness, Samaposha takes pride in promoting sports activities that benefit the nation’s young children.
