Samaposha: Adding strength to school football

Plenty Foods Director/CEO Shammi Karunaratne handing over the sponsorship cheque to FFSL President Anura de Silva, in the presence of CBL Marketing Manager Nilupul De Silva, School Football Association Secretary General N.S.B. Dissanayake, Sunil Jayaweera, Special Consultant to the Education Minister (health education and sports), FFSL Secretary General Balendra Anthony and Plenty Foods General Manager Wasantha Chandrapala

Organised in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Football Federation and the School’s Football Association, the ‘Samaposha Under-15 Inter-School Football Championship 2016’ kicked off on 13 September. 

A total of 500 boys’ teams and 150 girls’ teams representing schools island wide comprising over 12,000 students will participate in this year’s tournament; 32 centres will host the tournament island wide encompassing all districts in the country. 

The final round is scheduled during 28, 29, 30, 31 October and is to be held in Polonnaruwa with 32 boys’ teams and 24 girls’ teams participating as district champions. The Best Player (Boys), Best Player (Girls) and also the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament will be awarded on the final day of the tournament.

Commenting on the tournament, Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Anura de Silva said, “The Under-15 Inter school championship for football is recognised among students as decidedly the most competitive but friendly tournaments held. A great deal of effort and camaraderie is seen in this tournament and gives us an opportunity to identify the talented players. Also this tournament is an ideal opportunity to be used as a platform to increase the keenness and enthusiasm among students for this sport. Towards this effort we are extremely grateful to Samaposha who has come forward and who continuously sponsor this annual tournament over the years.”

“Samaposha has been contributing and working towards the development of school football for over eight years. It is an honour to witness boys and girls who have played in this school tournament have now become recognised National Football players,” de Silva added. 

Plenty Foods Ltd. Director/CEO Shammi Karunaratne expressed the company’s commitment in uplifting school football. He said, “Energy is not the only thing that matters in sport, but also key aspects such as, skills, having the necessary endurance, self-belief and discipline towards a sport are also important. To achieve all these factors it is paramount to have proper nutrition.”

He added: “Samaposha is a brand made to international standards using nutritious local grains, which can provide the nutritional requirement of energetic sports like football. We have come to the forefront in supporting this tournament with the objective of generating world class players for our nation.”

During the previous year’s Samaposha Under-15 Inter School Football Tournament, Zahira College, Colombo beat Kinniya Central College, Trincomalee to clinch the boys’ title, whilst Mahajana College, Jaffna emerged champions in the girls’ category beating Kavisigamuwa Central College, Kurunegala.