IDM Campus celebrate 50 years with All-Island U-16 Football Championship
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(From left): Ijaz Faiz (Sales Manager), Thomas Benjamin (Head of Academics), Duwaragan Tharmalingam (General Manager Sales and Marketing), Gavaskar Panjenthiran (Head of Marketing and Communications), Gayan Kahuwela (Director Business Development - South Asia Region) and Amandi Kulasinghe (Managing Director) of IDM Campus and SLSFA officials Bandara Leelaratne (President), N.S.B. Dissanayake (General Secretary) and Sarath Ratnaweera (Treasurer) unveiling the trophies on offer
Coinciding with their 50th anniversary celebrations, which takes place in 2024, IDM Campus has expanded their base into sports activities by coming forward to host a junior national football event, with a massive player participation.
Accordingly, the IDM Campus All-Island Schools Under-16 Football Championship 2023 has been organised in collaboration with Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA), the governing body of schools football of the country.
According to the General Secretary of SLSFA, N.S.B. Dissanayake, a tally of nearly 700 young football players, boys and girls, have been enlisted to feature in the tournament, that will be conducted at district level before reaching the main draw, where the top 32 boys’ teams and top 24 girls’ teams from 25 districts will advance to play.
At district level, the teams will play on a league format with the top teams being assured to reach the knockout stage, which will commence from the best of 64. So far, finalists from 24 districts have been sorted out by the organisers, and the competition will move to the final stage after the completion of the three district competitions of the Western Province – Kalutara, Gampaha and Colombo, which are considered to include the most fiercely contested school teams.
“It serves as a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. IDM Creating Opportunities Nurturing Achievers is our motto, and we are committed to fostering the growth and development of the future stars of Sri Lankan football. IDM Campus was inaugurated in 1974 and we are proud of our journey and equally excited to host this Under-16 football competition as sponsors,” stated Amandi Kulasinghe, the Managing Director of IDM Campus.
The inauguration event, where the two coveted trophies were unveiled, was well attended by young players and officials of schools from Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha districts. The event was held at the IDM Campus premises on Galle Road in Dehiwela, where officials of both SLSFA and IDM Campus graced to make the announcement of the aspiring large-scale football tournament for youngsters of ages 16 and below.
“After the completion of the district level competitions, we will directly move to the main draw, where the top teams representing the whole island will travel to a single venue with intention of emerging champions. The SLSFA have laid out a comprehensive structure, aiming at a neatly conducted tournament, and we should gracefully acknowledge the commitment of IDM Campus, who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year. I hope this competition will be a trendsetter that will continue for years to come,” Dissanayake, the General Secretary of SLSFA, stated.
No sooner the final district competitions, which will commence this week, completes, the selected teams will gear up for the final stage, which will take place on October 14, 15 and 16 at the Racecourse ground in Colombo.
Representing SLSFA, its President Bandara Leelaratne, General Secretary N.S.B. Dissanayake and Treasurer Sarath Ratnaweera graced the occasion, while Amandi Kulasinghe (Managing Director), Gavaskar Panjenthiran (Head of Marketing and Communications), Gayan Kahuwela (Director, Business Development – South Asia Region), Duwaragan Tharmalingam (General Manager, Sales and Marketing), Thomas Benjamin (Head of Academics) and Ijaz Faiz (Sales Manager), representing IDM Campus were present.