Mahela’s football hat-trick at Zahira College
View(s):Former Sri Lanka Test cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene made a hat-trick as his team, the Cricket Stars thrashed an All Star team 6-1 in a Celebrity Football match organised by the Past Prefects Association of Zahira College at Maradana last Wednesday.
The Cricket Stars led by Sri Lanka bowling coach Champaka Ramanayaka had a great start from the first whistle. A great pass from Mahela Jayawardene to Upul Chandana, which portrayed that the co-ordination between the two greats is still intact, gave the Cricketers their first goal.
In addition the legendary Chaminda Vaas playing as left wing produced some great curves in to the box. Skipper Ramanayake controlled the game sweetly from the middle. Chandana gave the Cricket Stars their second goal from another Mahela’s pass. Shehan Daniel scored the third with a stunner as the Cricketers led the halftime 3-0.
Graham Labrooy, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Lanka de Silva, Ashok Peiris, Shane Fernando, Jerome Jayaratne, Jeewantha Kulatunga, and many other former cricketers were among the Cricket Stars lineup.
The entire second half belonged to Mahela as he scored his hat-trick of goals as the crowd went screaming to see their favourite international cricketer excel in a different form of sport at the home of one of the best football playing schools in the country. After missing two early chances in the first half Mahela made it count in the second half.
All Stars led by Fouzul Hameed did not have much ball possession despite the early goal in the second half by Tito Hassimdeen. Former rugby players, business personalities and media personalities were in the All Star team. Hisham Abdeen, who was a well-known rugby player and a national football player in 1986 was playing along with Nizam Jamaldeen, Shamly Nawaz, Mushtaq Jiffrey, Ishan Noor and Devinda Prasad.
Subhani Hassimdeen, who was the former Sri Lanka football captain, was the oldest player on the field. Naina Mohamed, Mohamed Roomy, Zia Ul-Haq, Roshan Watawala, Derena Dream Star singer Shan Hashim, Fashion visionary Ajai Vir Singh, Sri Lanka National Football coach Nikola Kavazoviæ and renowned racing driver Sajaad Zuhair played for the All Stars.
A huge crowd gathered to witness the match as Sri Lanka Cricket captain Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Mahroof were also present to witness the game. The match was organised to support and promote the Educational Projects of Past Prefects’ Association in conjunction with the 10th Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s which will be held on October 18 at the Zahira College ground.