Sri Lankan players attend Allianz Junior Football Camp in Munich

The young footballers are shown the finer points of the game by a coach of the FC Bayan Munich team. On the far right are Sri Lanka’s Dimukthi Charuka and Upendra Ihalagedara

Two young Sri Lankan football players, Dimukthi Charuka of Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya, Minuwangoda and Upendra Ihalagedara of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, represented Sri Lanka at the Allianz Junior Football Camp held in Munich, Germany, from 13 to 18 August. 

The camp was organised by global financial and insurance giant Allianz SE. The two local players were sponsored by Allianz’s fully- owned Sri Lanka subsidiary, Allianz Lanka, and chosen from over 300 applications from young soccer players aged between 14 and 16 years. 

Fifty applicants were shortlisted and called for an initial screening test at which they answered a multiple choice question paper based on their knowledge of football. They were then interviewed on their technical knowledge and passion for the game as well as for leadership qualities and attitude. 

Seventy five players between 14 and 16 years of age from 27 countries in which Allianz operates, participated in this year’s camp. Participants trained with the coaches of world famous soccer team FC Bayan Munich and met and mingled with many of the star FC Bayan players. They also watched a match played by FC Bayan Munich at the Allianz Area Stadium in Munich. A tour of the ancient city of Munich completed the memorable experience. 

“We are very pleased to have provided two of Sri Lanka’s outstanding Junior footballers with this golden opportunity to enhance their skills and train with international footballers.  The fact that they were also able to meet their football heroes and form relationships with fellow football enthusiasts their own age from other countries and cultures will be of great value to them,” said Allianz Lanka CEO Surekha Alles.

The football camp has been organized annually by Allianz SE since 2009, and Allianz Lanka has sponsored two participants to the camp since 2013. Sponsorship to the Allianz Junior football Camp is one of Allianz Lanka’s many social responsibility initiatives.