Dialog Champions League Super 8 Round postponed indefinitely
The Air Force SC, Army SC clash will be the curtain raiser of the Dialog Champions League Super 8 Round for which the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) is yet to finalise the dates. Originally, this match was to take place yesterday at the Colombo Racecourse ground, but the FFSL said in an official statement that, it had to postpone the commencement of the Super 8 Round due to unavoidable circumstances. The duration of the tournament may be subject to change by a week or two, according to the latest developments. All matches in the Super 8 Round were scheduled to conclude by September 25.
Yesterday, the second game of the Super 8 between Renown SC and Blue Star SC was to be the opening ceremony of the contest but, with the postponement, the FFSL will forward a new plan. However, as planned, matches will be worked off on Saturdays and Sundays at the Colombo Racecourse and CR&FC grounds. In the 1st Round of the Dialog Champions League, 18 teams contested, playing 72 matches. From Group A, Army SC, Solid SC Anuradhapura, Colombo FC and Blue Star SC Kalutara qualified, while Renown SC, New Youngs SC Wennappuwa, Navy SC and Air Force SC reached the Super 8 Round from Group B.
Sri Lanka Army is the only unbeaten team to qualify, with 7 wins and 1 tie from 8 matches, where they scored 24 goals while giving away only 4 goals. They collected 22 points to be Group A leaders. Renown SC emerged Group B leaders with 7 wins and 1 loss to Navy SC, from 8 matches, where they scored 26 goals while giving away 7 goals. They collected 21 points. In the entire competition, there were 21 Red Cards and 226 Yellow Cards in 72 games. In the 1st Round 243 goals were scored. Most number of goals in the tournament was scored by a foreign player, Jobb Michael of Renown SC, with 14 goals in 8 matches. Last year’s champions and runners-up, Colombo FC and Renown SC respectively have qualified for the Super 8. The winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 750,000, while the Runners-up will receive Rs 500,000.