Independence shield final today

By V.T. Rajah

“Independence Shield” Football finals will be played today February 4 at the Vincent Dias Stadium for the Dilan Perera Challenge Trophy between the Combined Schools and the Government Services eleven.

In fact this tournament is being played after a lapse of 26 years and this year it is being organized by the Veterans Sports Club. The inaugural Independence Shield Football tournament which commenced during early sixties organized by the Badulla Football League was won by the Combined Schools.

Six teams, Combined Schools, Government Services, Mercantile, Nationalised Services, Private Transport Services and the Rest participated in this tournament under two groups. In the semifinals, Combined Schools beat the more fancied Rest eleven on a tie-breaker Penalties while the Government Services beat the Nationalised Services by 3 goals to one on Thursday . This encounter turned out to be rough and two of the Government Services players were given marching orders.