CBL Samaposha powers school football for eleventh consecutive year

CBL Plenty Foods Director/CEO Shammi Karunaratne (second from left) handing over the CBL Samaposha Under-14 Football Championship trophy to Sri Lanka Schools Football Association President Hemantha Abeykoon (third from left), flanked by CBL Food Cluster Marketing General Manager Jayanga Perera (left) and CBL Samaposha Senior Brand Manager Vijitha Govinna (right) 

CBL Samaposha takes pleasure in announcing its sponsorship of the Under-14 Inter-School Football Tournament for the eleventh consecutive year. 

Organised in collaboration with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) and the Sri Lanka Schools’ Football Association (SSFA), the CBL Samaposha Under-14 Inter-School Football Championship 2019 kicked off on 13 January.

An astounding number of over 12,000 students will be participating this year, showcasing the overwhelming response the event has garnered throughout the last decade. A total of 470 boys’ teams and 130 girls’ teams from across the country’s districts gathered at the 32 centres island-wide which host the tournament. 

Thirty-three boys’ teams and 25 girls’ teams were selected as district champions and will start competing in the rounds leading to the finals in Galle. The opening ceremony will take place on 31 January at the Football House grounds in Galle and the prize-giving will be held at Race Course grounds in Colombo. 

The Best Player (Boys), Best Player (Girls) and the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament will also be presented special awards. 

Sri Lanka Schools Football Association President Hemantha Abeykoon, commenting on the tournament, stated: “Each year we see the growing interest of the youth in coming together to compete for the championship. The tournament continues to encourage their team efforts and comradeship through a sport that helps develop them both physically and mentally, and we are truly grateful to Samaposha for their support in helping us hold this event annually.”

“For the eleventh consecutive year, CBL Samaposha has stepped forward to lead the development of football as a school sport, and many of these students are now recognised national football players bringing pride to their schools,” stated FFSL President Anura de Silva.

During last year’s tournament, Bendiwawe Maha Vidyalaya Girls’ High School, Polonnaruwa emerged as Champions in the Girls’ final and Muslim Central College, Kalutara clinched the Boys’ Championship.

Plenty Foods Ltd. Director/CEO Shammi Karunaratne, expressing the company’s view, stated: “As much as good nourishment is a key part of the development of young children, we also strongly believe in the importance of developing both physical and mental attributes through sports that advocate skills such as unity, discipline, quick decision-making along with strength and endurance. Both must go hand-in-hand, for in order to achieve these factors it is paramount for a child to have the right balanced nutrition in their daily diet. As such, Samaposha continues to advocate the message on the importance of a balanced nutritious breakfast for a healthy and nourished future generation.” 

Samaposha is the flagship brand of Plenty Foods Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of the CBL Group, one of the largest FMCG conglomerates operating mostly within the food sector in Sri Lanka with a brand presence spread over 60 countries around the world. 

The company has grown to become a market leader and dominant player in every sector it operates in. CBL group as a local corporate has earned much respect throughout the years for its caring approach towards all its stakeholders.