Pakeer Ali is confident of Lankan fortunes
The Sri Lanka Football Team with officials
Sri Lanka Coach Mohamed Nizam Pakeer Ali expressed his confidence that Sri Lanka could clinch the title at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup Tournament which would be worked off from September 4 to 15 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
“Our main target is to win the SAFF Cup. I cannot say it as a certainty but the players are in a good mentality,” said the former Head Coach of Abahani Sports Club, Bangladesh.
“The Sri Lankan combination for this event is well balanced. There are youth and veteran players. The team is capable of giving a good account,” added the former Technical Director of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group ‘B’ and their first match will be against India on September 5. The second game will be against the Maldives on September 7.
“I have coached club teams in India, Bangladesh and the Maldives. I am aware of their style of play. India is a very powerful team. But the Maldives’ defence is weak and they do not possess strikers as well. If Sri Lanka could win even one game, they have a chance of entering the semi-finals,” added Packeer Ali.
Sri Lanka won the SAFF Championship in 1995 and also qualified for the semi-finals in 1997, 2008 and 2015. Sri Lanka emerged runners-up in the first edition of SAFF Tournament held in 1993 in Lahore, Pakistan.
Packeer Ali also said that the National Team will be able to get more international exposure by competing in this event.
“This young team played a good game with the touring Lithuanian team in their friendly encounter played in Colombo last month. Also, the National Team toured Japan and South Korea for training sessions and they played few practice matches and it was a good opportunity for the team.”
The Sri Lanka contingent consists with 20 players and most of them are newcomers and there are also few young players in the squad. Asela Madushan of St. Joseph’s College is the only schoolboy in this squad. Anuruddha Warakagoda, Subash Madushan, Charith Ratnayake are the experienced players in this squad. Goal-keeper Sujan Perera who is currently attached to the Eagles Football Club in the Maldives is the only professional player in the squad.
| Sri Lanka National Football Team: | |
| Subash Madushan (defender – Captain, Navy SC), Yogendra Puslas (defender, New Youngs FC), Anuruddha Warakogoda (defender – Army SC), Charith Ratnayake (defender – Colombo FC), Sajith Mendis (midfield – Army SC), Mohamed Rifnaz (midfield – Colombo FC), Afeel Mohamed (midfield – Colombo FC), Ahikur Rahman (midfield – Army SC), Mariyanthas Nithrshan (midfield – Renown SC), Hewage Kavindu (midfield – Air Force SC), Naizer Mohamed (striker – Colombo FC), Johar Mohamed (striker – Colombo FC), Jude Supun (defender – Renown SC), Asela Madushan (striker – Renown SC), Sasanka Jayasekara (midfielder – Colombo FC), Nicholas Fernando (defender- Air Force SC), Sujan Perera (goal-keeper – Eagles SC, Maldives), Rajapaksa Danushka (goal-keeper – New Youngs FC), Kaveesh Fernando (goal-keeper – Colombo FC).
|