Gateway U-18s clinch fourth successive International Schools football title
View(s):Gateway College etched their name in history once again by securing the International Schools Under-18 Football Championship for the fourth consecutive year, reaffirming their dominance on the schools’ football circuit. The tournament, held at Moragasmulla from February 2 to 12, saw Gateway begin their campaign in commanding fashion, and finish off their campaign in style with an unbeaten record.
Gateway topped their group with a resounding 4-0 victory over Colombo International School, Colombo, followed by a confident 3-1 win against hosts Royal Institute, setting the tone for another remarkable run.
As the competition progressed, Gateway’s midfield emerged as the heartbeat of the team.
Gateway Under-18 team that won the International Schools title
Captain and Sri Lanka Under-17 player Nusraan Nazeer, alongside his national teammate Hamood Rizwan, controlled proceedings with composure and technical brilliance. Their dominance in midfield ensured that Gateway dictated the tempo of every match, constantly creating opportunities while being supported by a disciplined and organised defence.
Gateway moved through the knockout stages with authority. A clinical 2-0 victory over Lyceum International School, Nugegoda in the quarter-finals was followed by a convincing 3-0 win against Gateway College, Kandy in the semi-finals, setting up a much-anticipated final against Elizabeth Moir School.
At the final, Gateway emerged victorious with a narrow but deserved 1-0 win with the solitary goal coming from the boots of forward Rehan Jayasinghe, whose superb strike sealed the championship. Rehan finished as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive tally of eight goals. Gateway custodian Mahir Imran was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, recognising his consistency and crucial saves throughout the campaign.
Gateway’s latest triumph further cements their supremacy in International Schools football. With the Under-20 team having secured their seventh consecutive International Schools Championship at the end of last year, the school continues to set the benchmark in school-level football.
Gatway Under-14s finished overall third in the All-Island competition
Gateway’s success is not limited to the international schools circuit. At national level, the Under-14 team delivered an outstanding performance by finishing third at the Sri Lanka Schools’ Samaposha All-Island Football Tournament. In the third-place playoff held at the Racecourse Stadium on February 11, Gateway defeated Holy Cross College. Kalutara 3-0 to secure a place among the top three school teams in the country.
Gateway’s All-Island campaign followed their crowning as Colombo District joint champions on February 2. Travelling to Baddegama, Galle for the national tournament, Gateway recorded impressive victories over Shams Central College, Maruthmunai, Holy Cross Kalutara, Lyceum Gampaha and Trinity College before narrowly losing a hard-fought semi-final encounter against St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna.
The rise of Gateway College, Colombo into the top tier of Sri Lankan schools football is evident across all age groups. The Under-20 team’s third-place finish in the Sri Lanka Schools All-Island Division I Tournament at the end of last year, further underscores the school’s consistent performance and structured football development pathway. With sustained excellence at both international schools’ and the national levels, Gateway College continues to shape a generation of talented footballers, reinforcing its reputation as a powerhouse in Sri Lankan school football.