Soccer veterans at work today
There would be trophies galore on offer
The quarter-finals of the Thilak Peiris Challenge Trophy Over-40 Football Tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Soccer Masters’ Association (SLSMA) is scheduled to be played in Colombo, Kegalle and Badulla. The first matches were worked off yesterday, while the last quarters will be played today.
To encourage and promote the veterans in the outstations, this year’s tournament was conducted in eight groups of four each in Colombo and the outstations. A total of 25 veteran’s teams from Colombo played in four groups and 19 outstation teams too were divided into four groups. After the exciting League Tournament, the group champions qualified to play in the quarter-finals.
The committee, headed by Thilak Peiris, the founder President of the SLSMA, had decided to have the tournament in Colombo and in the outstations to avoid the financial burden of the veterans clubs and accordingly two quarter-finals will be played away from Colombo.
In the Colombo region the quarter-finals were played at Cooray Park yesterday, and will culminate today. The first quarter-final between Colombo Veterans and Old Ben’s was played yesterday. Today Maligawatte Veterans will face Saunders Veterans at the same venue with kick off time scheduled for 3.00pm. The winners of these quarter-finals will face each other in one semi-final.
The last quarter final between Kegalle Veterans and Trinco Soccer Masters will be played in Kegalle today. The winners of these quarter finals will play each other in the second semi final. If both home teams or away teams win the quarter finals, then there will be a toss for the venue of the semi finals. If a home team and a away team win the quarters, then the away team will get the benefit to host the semi final.
The semi finals are scheduled for December 9th and 10th and the organizers are planning to have the finals on the 16th or 17th of December. The venue will be notified later.
The champions will receive the Thilak Peries Challenge trophy. medals and Rs. 100,000/- in cash, while the runner up will also get a trophy, silver medals and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-
The Most Valuable Player and the Most Valuable Goal keeper will get the Golden Boot and the Golden Glove plus Rs 10,000.
Founded in 1995
The Sri Lanka Soccer Masters’ Association was founded under the leadership of Thilak Peries with the aim of helping the neglected soccerites who have rendered a great service to the nation in the field of football.
For the past 22 years, the SLSMA has been in the forefront by helping the much needed soccer players and their family members. A grant of Rs. 10,000/- each was given to 20 veteran soccerites by the SLSMA as medical assistance etc.