Colombo Veterans looking for another goal
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Colombo Veterans Soccer squad: Front row knelt from left: Mohammed Faizal, Anton Silva, Dhammika Athukorale, Hanif Lukman, Nishantha Sisira Kumara, Priyantha Liyanage (Skipper), Joseph Shanthakumar (Rasa) Middle row: Sampath Perera, Jayashantha Liyanage, Young Chul Park, Jagath Rohan, Tuan Saharuddin Sudar. Back row: Gunatilleke Bandara, Mohammed Faiz (Coach), Ramanathan Puwanendiran, Mohammed Imthisam, Karuppiah Ramar, Priyantha Perera, Anura Sampath Absent: Maxi Lateran, Niroshan Chryshantha Abeysekara, Mohammed Ishamuddin and Feroz Inam (Manager)
Colombo Veterans Football Club President Ramanathan Puwanediran expressed his confidence that his club would do well in the Eight -Nation Over-40 International Football Tournament to be held in Dubai from November 30 to December 3, 2016.
“We have proved this in the past and I am pretty sure our team would come back with glory. We have been practicing in the artificial surface due to non availability of grounds owing inclement weather. Everyone in our team have vast experience in club football and we are proud to have some former national players as well who give more strength to the team” Puwanendiran further said.
Coached by former Renown midfielder Mohammed Faiz, Colombo Veterans are led by former Saunders and National midfielder Priyantha Liyanage who still shows some of the skills that were seen during his youth days.
In order to have recreation, healthy and smooth life to the players after the retirement from Club football, Puwanendiran better known as Puhal in the football circle formed the Colombo Veterans Football Club about a decade ago. And this club has produce some good results in the international over 40 tournaments.
In the inaugural tournament held in Singapore in 2006, Colombo Veterans crowned themselves as the champions and five years later won it for the second time in India. In 2008 they were joint champions along with the hosts Singapore.
Colombo Veterans were runners up in 2007 (Malaysia), 2012 (Mauritius), 2013 (Malaysia) and 2015 (South Africa).
This year Dubai is hosting this tournament and Over 40 teams from Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius are taking part in this tournament. Every team will play each other and the two top teams will fight for the champion position on December 3, 2016.
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