Royal footballers rewarded for sensational season with 5-day tour to Malaysia
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Second row from left: M.I.M. Ishfaq, Daham Makubura, Wasim Naseemdeen, Mishraf Asad, Bhavakuhan Balakrishnan, Hamid Naseemdeen, Michael Wijewardana, Samri Mohamad. First row from left: Umar Ahamed, Sajidh Razak, Basith Ameen, Shishan Prabudda, Inamul Islam, Irfan Manafdeen, Mavith Kavishka, Nafees Nazeer, Malith Vidanagamage, Chenura Dias, Ammar Hilmy Seated from left: M.H. Roomy (Head Coach), Shantha Kumara (MIC), M.A.M. Riyaz (SGM), Sakun Divyanga (Captain), B.A. Abeyrathna (Principal), Mohamed Luckman (Vice Captain), S. Sundaralingam (MIC), Anton Joy (Coach)
Fresh off a successful season, the high-riding Royal College senior football team is to test its skills in Malaysia, by announcing a short 5-day tour which commenced on July 4, during which the team will play two games against Pre-University SMK Gombak Setia and Royal Selangor Club on July 5 and 7 respectively.
The tour is a reward for the 20-member contingent, for their exceptional season during which the team was runner-up in All-Island Division 1 Football Tournament, champions in Circuit Football Tournament, champions in the Zonal Football Tournament, winners of Royal vs S. Thomas’ Blue Derby and winners of Royal vs Mahinda Albert Edirisinghe Trophy.
The year kicked off in tremendous style when Royal College, with the objective of uplifting the standards of their football, appointed maestro Mohamed Hassan Roomy as the head coach. He has a commendable track record at both school and club level. Roomy along with the team’s assistant coaches, Lasantha Kumara and Anton Joy and Goal Keeper trainer Ajith Kumara inspired the players to achieve great heights through dedication, commitment and strategic vision which proved fruitful during the season.
Addressing the gathering the Chairman of the Royal College Football Advisory and Management Committee Pradeep Vittanachchi expressed the College’s heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of the unwavering support Royal Football has received from the Principal of Royal College, B.A. Abeyrathna, the Senior Games Master, Riyaz Alluhar, the coaching staff, fellow members of the advisory committee, the various corporates and last but not least the head of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka Anura de Silva, who came forward to make this tour a reality,” he said. He also quoted that this tour of Malaysia should contribute significantly to developing the player and coaches’ skills for future.