Mahela to lead all stars soccer tie
The 10th edition of Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s, organised by the Past Prefects’ Association of Zahira College Colombo, will be staged on October 18. This year the much anticipated football 7s competition by schools will come out with the theme of ‘Football Festival’ as it has done in the previous nine years.
O.H. Sulaiman, the CEO of Pyramid Wilmar (2nd from left) handing over the sponsorship to PPA President Nimnaz Rameez (2nd from right) for the 10th Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s. Also in the picture are the Principal of Zahira College, Trizviiy Marikkar (3rd from left), Project Chairman Farizan Marso (right) and Project Secretary Rinaz Rafaideen (left)
The countdown to the event was made last Wednesday at a launching ceremony held at the Swimming Pool of Zahira College, graced by captains of all participating schools, sponsors and distinguished guests. The celebrations include 7s football competition held internally between classes of Zahira.
“This was a tremendously successful event with over 600 young students taking part in it. They were so keen on the game that some classes had their very own printed jerseys. It’s an obvious case that football is the most popular sport in the world and in Sri Lanka it has no difference. With the tournament reaching its 10th year, it prompted us to add one of two new chapters to it besides the main tournament. The Inter-Class competition which is one of them has managed to gather the momentum within the school itself,” stated Farizan Marsoon, the Project Chairman.
The main tournament, the Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s will be started on a league basis of four groups. Based on placing in the first round, teams will be drawn into four categories in the second round, namely Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield championships. The Cup winners will be given a cash award of Rs.50, 000. The total value of the prize money will be Rs. 500,000.
In addition, the second new addition, a ‘Celebrity Football Match’ sponsored by world renowned Li-Ning will be held on October 8 at Maradana at 4:00pm.
The match will be a clash between a team of All Stars and a team of Cricket Stars led by former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene. Besides Jayawardene the Cricket Stars will include his former national team mates Chaminda Vaas, and Upul Chandana. The cricketers’ opponents will team up for the first time from different fields. The team will include popular personalities from the fields of sports, arts, films and media.
The draw of the main tournament was held at the launch itself. Accordingly defending champions Zahira College Colombo was placed in Group ‘A’ alongside Royal College, Zahira College Mawanella and Nalanda College. The Group ‘B’ consists of Holy Cross Kalutara, Maris Stella College, S. Thomas’ College and Lumbini Vidyalaya. Al-Aqsa College Kinniya, St. Benedict’s College, Wesley College and St. Mary’s College Kegalle are slotted in Group ‘C’ while Group ‘H’ includes Manipay Hindu College, De Mazenod College Kandana, Isipathana College and St. Joseph’s College.
This invitational football tournament is sanctioned by the Ministry of Education and the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association.