Babul Hassan Vidyalaya and Pallekanugala MV emerge champions
Boys' champions - Babul Hassan Vidyalaya, Warakapola
After both finals ended scoreless. Babul Hassan Vidyalaya, Warakapola and Pallekanugala Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle, went on to bag Boys’ and Girls’ titles respectively on penalties at the Milo All-Island Under-12 Football Tournament finale, held at the Jayathilake Stadium in Nawalapitiya last weekend. Babul Hassan Vidyalaya overcame Al-Ameen Vidyalaya, Kinniya 3-2 on penalties to lift the Boys’ championship, while Pallekanugala MV easily beat Bandiwewa Maha Vidyalaya, Bolawalana 2-0 on penalties to emerge Girls champions.
In the Boys segment, Babul Hassan Vidyalaya beat St. Henry’s College, Jaffna by 3-2 in a close battle while Al-Ameen Vidyalaya edged out St. John’s College, Jaffna 2-1 in the semi-final stage. The four semi-finalists were picked after recording wins against Gateway International, Rajagiriya (2-0), Hameed Al-Husseinie MV, Colombo (2-1), Wickramabahu MV, Kurunegala (4-3) and Goal and Gate International, Beruwala (2-0) respectively in the quarterfinals.
Girls' champions - Pallekanugala Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle
In the Girls qualifiers Pallekanugala MV beat Kadala Wela MV, Polonnaruwa (2-0) and Bandiwewa MV overcame Maliyadeva Girls School, Kurunegala (1-0) in the semi-finals. Earlier the four teams respectively beat Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala (4-3), C.W.W. Kannangara MMV, Galle (2-1), Mahajana College, Jaffna (2-0) and St. Mary’s Vidyalaya, Trincomalee (2-1) in the quarterfinals.
The All-Island Under-12 Football Tournament, organised by Milo and the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association in preparation for the Milo Champions Cup, kicked off on March 8 with an objective of identifying and selecting the best talent to form the team that would represent Sri Lanka at the Milo Champions Cup in Barcelona. The tournament was open to boys and girls born in 2008 and 2009 with 265 girls’ teams and 822 boys’ teams taking part, bringing the total number of participants to 13,044 children. Based on the skills and values demonstrated at the provincial matches, the best children were shortlisted to compete in the final tournament.
Over 400 participants from 32 boys schools and 32 girls schools competed in the final tournament, followed by a coaching camp, where an expert panel of coaches will select the eight most deserving players to represent Sri Lanka in the Milo Champions Cup. Although it was initially scheduled to be held in China, the venue has now been shifted to Barcelona.
The selected eight players will represent Sri Lanka in the Milo Champions Cup in Barcelona to compete with countries across the world such as Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Pakistan, Colombia, Chille, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago. A playing side in the tournament will comprise of eight players, in a series of 5-a-side matches with a minimum of one female player on each team with each match lasting for two halves of 10 minutes. The football event will go for nine days, which will also include a coaching camp run by FC Barcelona – the FC Barcelona Barca Academy (Soccer School).
Throughout the campaign Milo also put heavy focus on recognising good team values among the young players. To demonstrate the importance of team spirit, Milo together with FC Barcelona carried out this new initiative under the theme #TEAMMAKESME, to encourage kids around the world to work as a team.
Results of the finals held June 22 and 23:
n Quarter-finals:
Boys: St. Henry’s Jaffna beat Hameed Al Hussein MV Colombo (2-1); Babul Hassan Vidyalaya, Warakapola beat Gateway International Rajagiriya (2-0); Al Ameen Vidyalaya Kinniya beat Wickramabahu MV, Gampola (1-0); St. John’s Jaffna beat Goal and Gate International, Beruwala (2-0).
Girls: Bandiwewa MV, Bolawalana beat Mahajana College, Jaffna (2-0); Maliyadeva GS, Kurunegala beat St. Mary’s Vidyalaya, Trincomalee (2-1); Pallekanugala MV, Kegalle beat Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala (4-3); Kadala Wela MV, Polonnaruwa beat C.W.W. Kannangara MMV, Galle (2-1).
- Semi-finals:
Boys: Babul Hassan Vidyalaya, Warakapola beat St. Henry’s, Jaffna (3-2); Al Ameeen Vidyalaya, Kinniya beat St. John’s, Jaffna (2-1).
Girls: Bandiwewa MV, Bolawalana beat Maliyadeva GS, Kurunegala (1-0); Pallekanugala MV, Kegalle beat Kadala Wela MV, Polonnaruwa (2-0).
- Finals:
Boys: Babul Hassan Vidyalya, Warakapola beat Al Ameen Vidyalaya, Kinniya (3-2 on Penalty Shootout)
Girls: Pallekanugala MV, Kegalle beat Bandiwewa MV, Bolawalana (2-0 on Penalty Shootout)
