8th Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7’s kicks off next week

The Past Prefects’ Association of Zahira College Colombo is ready and counting down the days till the ‘Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7’s’ kicks off for the eighth consecutive year, beginning on 6 October at Zahira College grounds, Maradana, Colombo.

A fancy stage will be set this year with organizers arranging a flood lit final match. Cup winners will be given a cash prize of Rs.75,000 and total cash rewards and awards worth of Rs.500,000.

The objective of this annual event is to add value to youth football in Sri Lanka. This year’s tournament will link with celebration of 120 years of excellence to Zahira College Colombo and will be a tournament like no other.

“This has become much more than a football tournament, this teaches our youth to unite and work towards a common goal of victory, but also to accept defeat in a virtuous manner,” said Zahira College Principal M.H.M Jiffry. It is important to add that when the Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7’s started, the total prize fund was Rs.75,000 and now the total prize fund has surpassed Rs.500,000.

This is the first soccer tournament in the country to offer such cash prizes and awards at school levels. This year’s all island competition will host teams from the North (Jaffna) to the South (Matara).

Tournament format this year has been changed to give more chances to participating schools. The first round of the tournament will be conducted in a league basis with 4 groups. The second round will mean teams battle it out to win the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield Championship in relative order of placing.

This high rivalry, inter-school seven a side football tournament is approved by the Educational Ministry and recommended by the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association. The tournament’s advisory committee also consist of officials from the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and representative of AFC.

An event not to be missed that will unite schools and create a buzzing sense of youth competition, it is a corporate social responsibility project that Zahira College, Colombo should be commended for.