U-19 Football: St. Henry’s shock seasoned Zahira to win Kotmale Cup

St. Henry’s College, Ilavali, Jaffna shocked seasoned campaigners in schools football, Zahira College Colombo, recording a thrilling 3-1 win to claim the Kotmale Chox Schools Under-19 Football Championship in the final played at the Racecourse ground in Torrington on Friday (19).

The little known players from Jaffna took an early lead when Zahirian Mohamed Musharaf gifted an own goal in just three minutes to the first half. 

But Zahira came back to hit the equalizer through Mohamed Hammath in the 45th minute as both teams went to the halftime at 1-1.

With the score deadlocked on 1-1, both teams gave their hearts out in the second half but boys from Jaffna found the net twice in the 67th and 73rd minute to clinch the coveted title.

Ganeshwarana Antonyraj scored for the winner in the 67th minute to put the defending champions under pressure and six minutes later Alfred Benedict Anojan, who was later adjudged the player of the match, scored the third goal. 

The winning St. Henry’s College team was represented by Sivakumaran Krishanth, Alfred Thanesh, Alfred Benadict Anojan, Gnaneswaran Antonyraj, Benadict Xaviour Kanistan, Renard Johnson John Patrick, Nesarasa Antony Ramesh, Rexus Amalathas Mathusan, Sivakumaran Rubanraj, Sebamalainayagam Jude Suban, Ukantheeswaran Amalraj, Premkumar Sinthujan, Muthulingam Kilaxshan, Ratheeswaran Thanuraj, Johnson Dinald, Vensislas Edveen James, Karunaharan Kajendran, Thankarasa Ajith, Pararasasingam Krishanth, Thomas Jo Angelo, Ananthakumar Kajeevan, Emmanuel Kabistan Kavon, Johnson Anne Henry and Francis Selvarasa Siyansan.

Holy Cross Kalutara beat St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya 1-0 to win the third place playoff. The tournament saw 24 teams across the island competing for the coveted title. 

The tournament was organised by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and was sponsored by Kotmale, a subsidiary of Cargills PLC.