Tournament to kick off on Jan.7
Launching of the President’s Cup (from left): M.H.M. Iqbal - Chairman Tournament Organising Committee, Haroon Ahamed- Patron Group of 80's, M.S.M. Faizaal-Principal Hameed Al Husseinie College, Lahir Saalih-President Group of 80's, M.B.M. Zabeer-Secretary Group of 80's, Mohamed Mufshid-Sports Committee Chairman.
Literally kicking off 2017 with a bang, the tournament, organised by the Group of 80’s of Hameed Al Husseinie College will be celebrating the tournament under flood lights at Racecourse Sports Complex Grounds, Colombo 07 on January 7, 2017. The Champions Trophy will be presented as the “Presidents Cup.”
The opening match, semi-finals and finals will be at the Racecourse ground. All other games will be at the City League ground.
The much anticipated Inter school Invitation Football Tournament is set to be held in January next year, under the patronage of, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena.
From its inception in 2008, the football tournament has been organised with the approval of the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, and has been highly commended by the Football Federation and the Schools Football Association of Sri Lanka. The tournament’s sole objective at the start was to popularise soccer amongst school children and the general public, while also promoting fellowship and camaraderie among school children. Over the course of the decade however, the tournament has served as a major talent incubator for the sport, offering selectors the opportunity each year to identify and nurture young talent, building a strong talent pool of soccer players in the country.
Thus far, 20 of the country’s top school football teams confirmed participation including Ananda, D.S Senanayake, Isipathana, Nalanda, Royal, St. Benedicts’, Zahira Colleges (Gampola) along with hosts Hameed Al Husseinie College. Along with the honourable patronage of the President, the tournament attracts Ministers and Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, Diplomats and Corporate Dignitaries due to the quality and professionalism of the matches, complemented with the passion of the young players on the field.