Could the Lankans make an impression even this time?
With a mixture of youth and experience, Sri Lanka will be seen in action for the first time tomorrow at 6.15pm, Sri Lanka time, against Maldives, as the Group ‘B’ rivals clash in their first game of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup Championship, at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The two island nations from the Indian Ocean will face off against each other on the second day of the 11-day competition where six other countries from the South Asian region also vie for glory.
The opening game of the SAFF Cup will be an interesting battle between bitter rivals as defending champions, India take on Pakistan at 3.00 p.m. today. The second game will be played three hours later between the hosts Nepal and Bangladesh. All four teams battle from Group ‘A’ while Sri Lanka is featured in Group ‘B’ alongside Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan. Sri Lanka’s game tomorrow will be played after the clash between Afghanistan and Bhutan.
Prior to the competition the Sri Lanka football team underwent a two-week long conditioning and training programme in Thailand while playing a few friendly games against some of their top sides. Out of the four friendly matches they played, Sri Lanka recorded wins against the Thai Under-21, Thai Army and Thai Customs teams while losing against a visiting top division team from Hong Kong.
Initially the Football Federation of Sri Lanka named a squad of 27 players but after the tour to Thailand it was pruned down to 22 among which were top guns in local football such as Chathura Gunaratne, Mohamed Izzadeen and Raumy Mohideen, all three above 30 years of age. Sri Lanka will be led by centre back Suranga Bandara while the team will definitely benefit from the expertise of striker Gunaratne, who has been appointed as the deputy skipper. In addition the Sri Lanka team management has decided to include 13 young players, below the age of 24, in the final squad which was announced on Wednesday.
Besides their opening game tomorrow, Sri Lanka will play the rest of their group matches on Wednesday against Afghanistan and on Friday against Bhutan while looking to progress to the semi-final stage. Apart from Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan the remaining five teams featured in the tournament have won the SAFF Cup on one or more occasions.
Title holders India who are tipped to retain their silverware are the most successful team at this competition, winning it on five occasions, in 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009 and 2011. Hosts Nepal emerged victorious in 1984 and 1993. Bangladesh and Maldives had won the competition once each in 2003 and 2008 respectively. Sri Lanka’s only triumph in the tournament came in 1995 and they will be hopeful of replicating this success almost two decades later.
Final squad: Suranda Bandara (Capt), Chathura Gunaratne (VC), Dasun Paranavithana, Sujan Perera, Sampath Bandara, Sanka Danushka, Mohamed Sameer, Bandara Warakagoda, Eranga Prasad, Lahiru Tharaka, Raumy Mohideen, Tuan Rizni, H.D.M. de Silva, Sanoj Sameera, Sajith Kumara, Mohamed Fazal, Nipuna Bandara, Mohamed Nafeer, Chathuranga Sanjeewa, Mohamed Izzadeen, Sudarshana Gunasinghe, Mohamed Imran.
Officials: Claudio Roberto Silveira (Head Coach), Guilherme de Abreu Rangel Jr (Asst. Coach), D. Chandrasiri (Goalkeeper Coach), M. M. Rameez (Manager), Ajantha de Silva (Interpreter), S.N.P.K. Silva (Masseur)
| The schedule (SL time):
Sep 1: India vs Pakistan (3.00pm); Nepal vs Bangladesh (6.00pm) |
The Sri Lanka football team during their training programme in Thailand. - Pic courtesy FFSL