Dialog Champions League Football start on Sept. 2
Country’s premier football tourney–the Dialog Champions League 2017 will be played from September 2, 2017 to December 19, 2017.
The tournament which will see 18 teams in two groups competing with will kick-off with the Super Sun SC, Beruwela and Blue Star SC, Kalutara at the Vernon Fernando Stadium in Kalutara. The match is scheduled to start at 3.30 p.m.
According to the Competition Committee of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka the teams will involve in 153 games.
A team should comprise of 30 players as opposed to the previous season where a team had only 25 players. However, out of the 30 players, six should be under the age of 22. According to the tournament rules, one youth player (U-22) should play at least one half of the match.
The winning team will be in line for a cash award of Rs. 700.000 and the runners-up will receive Rs. 500.000.
Colombo FC emerged champions last year with Renown SC as the runners-up. The third place was taken by Blue Star Kalutara. The fourth place went to SL Army.
Meanwhile Football Federation also announced once the tournament is over, they would select a pool of 30 players in preparation for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup to be held next year in Bangladesh.
The teams taking part in the competition are: SL Air Force SC, SL Navy SC, New Youngs SC Wennappuwa. Solid SC Anuradhapura, SL Army SC, Negombo Youth SC, Saunders SC, Renown SC, Crystal Palace SC Gampola, Java Lane SC Slave Island, City SC Matara, Up Country Lions SC Nawalapitiya, Police SC, Pelicans SC Kurunegala, Moragasmulla SC Colombo, Blue Star SC Kalutara, Super Sun SC Beruwala and Colombo FC.