Hosts Zahira clinch Super 16 Soccer 7s
Skipper Mohamed Shazni along with his jubilant team members of Zahira Colombo receiving the Zahira Super 16 championship trophy from the chief guest O.H. Sulaiman
Hosts Zahira College, Colombo, beat Maris Stella College, Negombo 1-nil, after a thrilling battle, clinched the Schools Super 16 Invitational Soccer 7s played at Maradana last weekend.
Both teams dished out fast and moving football while playing exceptionally well providing a fitting battle for a final. The crowd that came to witness the grand finale saw a nerve wrecking battle for supremacy between Zahira and Maris Stella as Mohamed Rifnaz netted the solitary goal of the game for the winners.
With that goal Zahira took the breather with a close 1-nil lead, which was the eventual outcome as both teams failed to score after the change of ends.
In the semi-final stage, both Zahira and Maris Stella recorded wins against their respective hometown rivals St. Joseph’s and De Mazenod, on penalty shootouts, after both encounters ended in thrilling scoreless draws.
The skipper of St. Mary’s College Kegalle, T.U.D. Dharmawardana receiving the Plate trophy from M. Sharaf, Executive of Akbar Brothers
Earlier in the quarterfinals De Mazenod beat St. Mary’s College Kegalle, while Maris Stella got the better of St. Benedict’s College Kotahena. St. Joseph’s beat hometown rivals Ananda College while Zahira recorded an easy win against Holy Cross Kalultara.
In the Plate final St. Mary’s Kegalle beat Ananda College to win the title. St. Mary’s Kegalle had recorded a thrilling win against St. Benedict’s while Ananda beat Holy Cross in the Plate semi-final stage.
Lumbini College slotted the Bowl championship beating D.S. Senanayake College in the final. Earlier in the semi-finals Lumbini beat Hindu College while D.S. Senanayake beat Manipay Hindu College who were later adjudged the most popular team of the tournament after it was voted online. They were presented with soccer equipment by the organisers of the event.
Skipper of St. Thomas College Matara, Rasika Sampath receiving the Shield title from Raja Manikkam, Director of Little Asia
St. Thomas’ College Matara emerged as one of the most successful teams in the tournament, when they outplayed Wesley College to win the Shield championship. St. Thomas’ dislodged Zahira College Mawanella while Wesley beat Isipathana in the semi-final stage.
Skipper of Lumbini College, Mahesh Kumar receiving the Bowl championship from Rizmi Marzook, the Past President of PPA
Over 170 participants from 16 leading soccer playing schools from Sri Lanka took part in the Zahira Schools Super 16 Invitational Soccer 7s which was organised for the eighth consecutive year by the Past Prefects Association (PPA) of Zahira College Colombo. O.H. Sulaiman, the Chairman and CEO the Phone Company graced the awards ceremony as the chief guest while Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris, Vice President of Sri Lanka Football Association was the guest of honour.
Other distinguished guests who graced the occasion were Rizvi Farook, the Senior Manager of Dialog Axiata, M.J.M. Jiffry, Principal of Zahira College, Lalith Fernando, the Deputy Director Central Environmental Authority, G. Ariyaratne President of Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and Ramzeen Slamath, President of PPA. The sponsors of the event were the Phone Company International and Dialog Axiata.
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