The biggest ever soccer show on Sri Lanka soil will be on stage from Tuesday when the final round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup will be staged at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Two matches will be played on February 16 with Tajikistan playing Bangladesh in the opening game at 4 p.m. and Myanmar taking on hosts Sri Lanka at 6 p.m.

Seated (L to R) Fouzal Rahuman, Chathura Gunaratne, Rohana Ruwantilleke (captain), Jang Jung (Coach), M.M. Rameez (Manager), Mohammed Amanulla (coach), Mahinda Galagedera (goalkeeper trainer), Imtiaz Raheem, M.N.M. Izadeen (2nd row standing L to R) S.N.P.K. Silva (Masseur), Buddika Bandara, K.K.C. Lankesara, S. Sanjeev, Asanka Viraj, Philip Dalpadado, Madushka Peiris, Mohammed Ajmal, M. Basith (Masseur). Last Row (Standing L to R) Nadeeka Pushpakumara, Mohammed Imtiaz, Chathura Samarasekera, Malik Migara, M. Kais, Tuwan Rizni, Niranga Perera and Bandara Warakagoda.

This tournament which is being conducted for the third time will see the second-rungers of the Asian circuit vying for the top position and a chance to take part in the Asia Cup proper where teams of the calibre of Japan, Australia, South Korea, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain etc are vying for honours.

A noteworthy factor in this year’s tournament is North Korea who has already qualified to take part in the World Cup proper along with South Korea, Japan and Australia have opted to play along with the bottom rungers with a view to give them the much needed competiton during this tournament. The teams that are taking part are: - Group ‘A’ – Tajikistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Group ‘B’:- India, North Korea, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

According to the Sri Lanka Football Federation’s Media Director Rukmal Perera Sri Lanka on their part faced a huge set back in the aftermath of the SAF debacle where they ended up third in their group that comprised Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and were knocked out in the first round. As a result the Sri Lanka national football team was disbanded and the national soccer coach Sampath Perera had to seek alternate employment.

For the recently concluded South Asian Games Sri Lanka was represented by their U23 team.
Commenting further on the Lankan squad Rukmal Perera said “This time the National selectors and the Ex-co decided to stick mainly with the talent of a blend of the experienced players, under the guidance of new coach former national player Mohammed Amanulla with former South Korean national player Jang Jung supporting with technical advice.

Jong-Tae-Se North Korean playmaker (in red) a man to watch during this tournament.

“Rohan Ruwantilleke who now has moved from Gampola to Saunders was already a national player though being still under 23 have been named the captain of the national squad with an eye to the future. The experienced players who have been retained in the side are – goal keeper Asanka Viraj from Saunders, mid-fielders Nadeeka Pushpakumara from Police and Chathura Samarasekera from Saunders, defenders Imtiaz Rahim from Air Force, Madushka Perera from Negombo Youth and striker Mohammed Izadeen from the Sri Lanka Army.”

Rukmal Perera also said that drafted into the team was multitalented Fouzal Rahuman whom he counts as a player ahead of our times. The Lankans are currently rated seventh in this group and 26th out of 47 countries in the Asian chart.

Sri Lanka team for Tuesday’s game will be picked from: Goal Keepers; Asanka Viraj, Sampath Buddika Bandara, Mohammed Ajmal. Defenders: Rohana Ruwantilleke (Captain), Bandara Warakagoda, Mohammed Imtiaz, Chathura Gunaratne, Madushka Peiris, K.K.C. Lankesara, Niranga Perera. Mid-Fielders: Imtiaz Raheem, Fouzal Rahuman, M.N.M. Izadeen, Nadeeka Pushpakumara, Chathura Samarasekera, Tuwan Rizni, P.D. Malik Migara. Forwards: S. Sanjeev, M. Kais, Philip Dalpadado.
The Participating teams were due to arrive in the island from yesterday evening.