The Sri Lankan version of community based club football, the Dialog Champions League [DCL 2013] will kick off today at the City Football Complex at 3.30 with defending champions Ratnams SC facing Sri Lanka’s most popular football club, Saunders SC.
The match will create an exciting opening for the DCL 2013 with the new format comprising 20 teams, 187 matches in 17 venues including Anuradapura, Kurunegala, Nawalapitiya, Matara, Kalutara, Homagama, Beruwala in addition to Colombo.
Saunders had been very consistent in this year having won the Phoenix Cup last week beating Ratnams in a very tough and close game. Fresh from this victory they will be in a strong mental frame when they meet their arch rival Ratnams SC today. As for Ratnams, they have the services of an experienced trio; Channa, Tharusha, Ravindra who will have to put together all their skills to craft a good game plan against the Price Park players. The never say die Sanoj, Dimu, veteran Isuruwith and solid custodian Asanga Viraj have been a impenetrable wall at the goalposts. Ratnams SC goalkeeper Shegan has to be much vigilant and steady as the game progresses, in order to contain the sharp shooting of Saunders SC players; no doubt a daunting task!
The other match on the cards today is New Young’s, Wennapuwa taking on Kalutara Park at Wennapuwa. Kalutara Park will have it tough as they travel down to Wennapuwa who is fielding a much experienced team with two African players which will also make it very colorful. The Sri Lankan Goal Keeper Sujan is a tower of strength for the Kalutara team.
On Sunday, the Dialog Champions League (DCL 2013) travels to many cities with 8 matches on cards creating an opportunity for football lovers to witness the best brand of Sri Lankan soccer with many Afrikan players adding color and excitement.
The beauty of the DCL 2013 is that every very match will be played according to the FIFA count down and FFSL together with Dialog has finalized all arrangements to have FIFA qualified referees and Match Commissioners in attendance at all matches.
MarCom Coordinators at all venues have been assigned this year to make this year’s DCL 2013 a grand success. So for fans, the DCL 2013 guarantees real football excitement for you; sure that you will follow the DCL 2013 with much enthusiasm throughout the 3 month long competition.
Participating Teams
Blue Star (Kalutara) – Colombo FC – Don Bosco (Negombo) – Java Lane (Colombo) – Kalutara Park – Matara City – Nandimithra – Negombo Youth – New Young’s (Wennappuwa) – Pelicans (Kurunegala) – Ratnam – Renown – Saunders – Solid (Anuradhapura) – Super Sun (Beruwela) – SL Army – SL Air Force – SL Navy – SL Police – Up County Lions (Nawalapitiya
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2000/01-Champion-Saunders SC
2001/02-Champion-Saunders SC
2002/03-Champion-Negombo Youth SC
2003/04-Champion-Blue Star SC
2004/05-Champion-Saunders SC
2005/06-Champion-Negombo Youth SC – Segment “A” Navy SC -Segment “B”
2006-Champion-Ratnam SC – Segment “A” New Young SC – Segment “B”
2007-Champion-Ratnam SC
2008-Champion-SL Army SC
2009-Champion-Renown SC
2010-Champion-Don Bosco SC
2011-Champion-Ratnam SC
DIALOG” CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INVITATION TOURNAMENT – 2013
MATCH SCHEDULE
GROUP – “A”
1ST ROUND
Stage – 1
M/NO DATE MATCH VENUE
01. 04.05.13 Ratnam SC Vs Saunders SC City Football Comple
02. 05.05.13 Blue Star SC Vs Super Sun SC V. Fernando Stadium, Kalutara
03. 05.05.13 Colombo FC Vs SL Navy SC Sugathadasa Stadium
04. 05.05.13 Java Lane SC Vs SL Air Force SC City Football Complex
05. 05.05.13 Negombo Youth SC Vs Matara City SC Maristella Ground, Negombo
GROUP – “B”
1ST ROUND
Stage – 1
M/NO DATE MATCH VENUE
01. 05.05.13 Don Bosco SC Vs SL Police SC Don Bosco Ground, Negombo
02. 15.05.13 Nandimithra SC Vs SL Army SC Kelaniya Football Complex
03. 05.05.13 Pelicans SC Vs Renown SC Maliyadewa Ground, Kurunegala
04. 04.05.13 New Young’s SC Vs Kalutara Park SC Albert F. Peiries Stadium,Wennappuwa
05. 05.05.13 Up Country Lions SC Vs Solid SC Jayathilake Stadium, Nawalapitiya
DIALOG” CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INVITATION TOURNAMENT – 2013
MATCH SCHEDULE
GROUP – “A”
1ST ROUND
Stage – 1
M/NO DATEMATCHVENUE
01.04.05.13Ratnam SC VsSaunders SCCity Football Comple
02.05.05.13Blue Star SCVsSuper Sun SCV. Fernando Stadium, Kalutara
03.05.05.13Colombo FCVsSL Navy SCSugathadasa Stadium
04.05.05.13Java Lane SCVsSL Air Force SCCity Football Complex
05.05.05.13Negombo Youth SCVsMatara City SCMaristella Ground, Negombo
GROUP – “B”
1ST ROUND
Stage – 1
M/NO DATEMATCHVENUE
01.05.05.13Don Bosco SCVsSL Police SCDon Bosco Ground, Negombo
02.15.05.13Nandimithra SCVsSL Army SCKelaniya Football Complex
03.05.05.13Pelicans SCVsRenown SCMaliyadewa Ground, Kurunegala
04.04.05.13New Young’s SCVsKalutara Park SCAlbert F. Peiries Stadium,Wennappuwa
05.05.05.13Up Country Lions SCVsSolid SCJayathilake Stadium, Nawalapitiya
