Zahira College, Maradana demolished St.Mary’s College, Negombo 5-0 while Maliyadeva Girls’ College outclassed Jayakody MV 2-0 to win the Boys’ and Girls’ categories respectively in the U17 All Island Football Championship organized by the Sri Lanka Schools’ Football Association at the Albert F. Peiris Stadium, Wennappuwa.
The tournament was held for two days in Wennappuwa with Albert F. Peiris Stadium and St.Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya being the venues for the matches.
U17 Boys’ Championship
In a tournament where both National Schools Games finalists De Mazenod College and Hameed Al Husseinie College failed to perform, it was Zahira College who stole the limelight of the SLSFA U17 Schools Football Championship 2016.
Zahira faced St.Mary’s College, Negombo, dubbed ‘the luckiest team’ of the tournament in the finals and the match proved to be every bit as enthralling as it was very fast paced right from the kick-off; albeit to Zahira.
It was Zahira who managed to score first when a stray bouncing ball which the Marian defenders failed to clear was volleyed past the keeper by Mohamed Rashid in the 4th minute.
Rashid scored his second for Zahira in the 9th minute which turned out to be a near exact replica of the first goal as the ball once again rested in the bottom right corner of the goal.
Zahira were on a roll as they got their 3rd goal two minutes later when the corner ball which the Marian keeper actually managed to get a touch on, bounced off the back of Mohamed Aakib and into the goal.
The ‘Kings of Football’ scored two more goals in the 12th and 17th minute putting up a gigantic score of 5 – 0 at the end of the first half.
St. Mary’s put up a better show in the second half refraining from conceding anymore goals but their ‘luck’ had finally run out as they failed to score a single goal.
Full time – Zahira College 5 – 0 St.Mary’s College
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Mohamed Rashid (Zahira College)
SLSFA Best Player – Mohamed Aakib (Zahira College)
SLSFA Best Goalkeeper – Mohamed Ali (Zahira College)
Goal Scorers
Zahira College – Mohamed Rashid 4’, 9’, Mohamed Akhtar 11’, Mohamed Aakib 12’, Mohamed Sajid 17’
Zahira College came into the finals after a tough match against St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna where a solitary goal by Mohamed Sajid saw them through. Even though St. Patrick’s held up their defense afterwards they failed to conjure up attacks to turn the tables.
In the quarter-finals Zahira College overcame Holy Cross College, Kalutara with a score of 1 – 0 and also Herman Gmeiner, Piliyandala and Zahira College, Gampola in the previous stages.
Speaking to ThePapare.com, Zahira College coach Mohamed Roomy said;
“We are a team that tries to keep the ball between ourselves as much as possible. We play touch for touch football. We didn’t receive much pressure in the final even though we analyzed our opponents game by game. We did our homework and results were clear from the goals. All our goals were set piece goals.”
St. Mary’s College had undoubtedly the most fortunate run throughout the tournament earning walkovers and winning in nail-biting penalty shootouts.
Their 1st round against St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya was abandoned by the latter after the coach and team were enraged against the referee’s decision to retake a penalty that failed to convert. The incident led to quite a scene and even though the match restarted it was discontinued after a fight broke out between the two teams.
The Negombo lads defeated the much fancied St.Peter’s College, Colombo with surprise 2 – 0 score line in the semi-finals. They also trounced Al Aqsa College, Kinniya and Al Azhar College, Thihariya in narrow penalty shootouts after both matches ended scoreless.
Results
1st round
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna (Walkover to St. Patrick’s) Seevali MV, Ratnapura
St. Mary’s College, Kegalle 0 – 1 St. Xavier’s College, Mannar
St. Sebastian’s College, Negombo 7 – 0 Madagama National School, Bibila
St. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela 1 – 0 Dharmasoka College
Holy Cross College, Kaluatara 3 – 0 Baptist Vision TMV, Kekirawa
Zahira College, Colombo 5 – 0 Herman G. Minor, Piliyandala
Madeena National School, Siyambalagaskotuwa 1 – 0 St.Thomas’ College, Matara
De Mazenod College, Kandana 0 (1) – 0 (4) Zahira College, Puttalam
Hameed Al Husseinie College, Colombo 0 (2) – 0 (3) St. Peter’s College, Colombo
Kottawattai AMTS, Valvetithurai 0 (2) – 0 (5) Al Azhar College, Thihariya
St. Mary’s College, Negombo (Match abandoned in favour of St. Mary’s) St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya
Baduriya Central College, Mawanella 3 – 0 All Saints College, Galle
2nd round
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna 0 (3) – 0 (2) St. JosephVaz College, Wennappuwa
St. Sebastian’s College, Negombo 0 (3) – 0 (1) St. Xavier’s College, Mannar
St. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela 0 – 6 Holy Cross College, Kaluatara
Zahira College, Colombo 4 – 1 Zahira College, Gampola
Pulavermani Sharifdeen Vid, Kalmunai 0 (3) – 0 (2) Madeena National School, Siyambalagaskotuwa
Zahira College, Puttalam 4 (1) – 4 (2) St.Peter’s College, Colombo
Al Azhar College, Thihariya 0 (4) – 0 (5) St.Mary’s College, Negombo
Al Aqsa College, Kinniya 2 – 0 Baduriya Central College, Mawanella
Quarter Finals
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna 1 – 0 St. Sebastian’s College, Negombo
Zahira College, Colombo 1 – 0 Holy Cross College, Kalutara
St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4 – 0 Pulavermani Sharifdeen Vidyalaya, Kalmunai
Al Aqsa College, Kinniya 0 (3) – 0 (4) St. Mary’s College, Negombo
Semi-Finals
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna 0 – 1 Zahira College, Colombo
St. Peter’s College, Colombo 0 – 2 St. Mary’s College, Negombo3rd place
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna 5 – 0 St. Peter’s College, ColomboFinal
Zahira College, Colombo 5 – 0 St. Mary’s College, Negombo
U17 Girls’ Championship
Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala once again proved that they are the undisputed champions of girls’ football in Sri Lanka winning the SLSFA U17 Championship.
Devians faced Jayakody MV, Ganemulla in the finals, a relatively newcomer to the scene, who managed to trounce all teams that stood in their way.
It was Sanduni Thathsarani of Jayakody MV who had the first chance on goal in one on one moment with keeper. In the excitement Sanduni kicked the ball into the waiting arms of the keeper squandering a very good opportunity.
Maliyadeva put in their first goal from a Gayathri Nanayakkara free kick which was headed on time by an agile Ashini Shashikala in the 9th minute.
Gayathri also put her name in the scorecard with a beautiful dipping free kick which soared over the goalkeepers hands into the goal doubling the lead in the 19th minute.
Although Jayakody MV did manage to bring the ball up field they were all lone attacks and were quickly stifled by the Devian defence.
Full time – Maliyadeva Girls’ College 2 – 0 Jayakody MV
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Gayathri Nanayakkara (Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya)
SLSFA Best Player – Gayathri Nanayakkara (Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya)
SLSFA Best Goalkeeper – Kavindya Nethmini (Jayakody MV)
Goal Scorers
Maliyadeva Girls’ – Ashini Shashikala 9’, Gayathri Nanayakkara 19’
Maliyadeva reached the finals defeating arch rivals Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala in the semis with a score of 1 – 0. They also got the better of Mahajana Vidyalaya, Jaffna in the quarters and Ythanside TMV, Nuwara Eliya in the 1st round.
Maliyadeva coach Mr.Satyaraj provided his thoughts to ThePapare.com;
“Our opponents played a good game in the finals, but we played better and won. We are very happy about our victory.”
The underdogs Jayakody MV overcame a rather notable Parakramabahu MV, Kurunegala in the semi final with a 1 – 0 score. They also got past St. Sebastian’s College, Madampe and Kimbissa Maha Vidyalaya on their way to the final.
1st round
Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala 4 – 0 Ythanside TMV, Nuwara Eliya
Mahajana Vidyalaya, Jaffna (Walkover to Mahajana) Infant Jesus Convent, Ratnapura
Sangabodhi M.M.V 3 – 0 Prajapathi Gothami B.M.V
Nannapurawa Maha Vidyalaya 0 – 4 Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala
Kimbissa Maha Vidyalaya 0 – 2 Jayakodi MV, Ganemulla
Velapura Maha Vidyalaya v Pallekalugala Kanishta Vidyalaya, Kegalle
Thismalpola Kanishta Vidyalaya, Mawanella 0 – 3 Parakramabahu MV, Kurunegala
Quarter Finals
Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala 1 – 0 Mahajana Vidyalaya, Jaffna
Sangabodhi M.M.V 0 – 2 Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala
St.Sebastian’s College, Madampe 0 – 3 Jayakodi MV, Ganemulla
Velapura Maha Vidyalaya 0 (3) – 0 (4) Parakramabahu MV, Kurunegala
Semi-Finals
Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala 1 – 0 Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala
Jayakodi MV, Ganemulla 1 – 0 Parakramabahu MV, Kurunegala3rd place
Kavisigamuwa MV, Kurunegala 0 – 1 Parakramabahu MV, KurunegalAFinal
Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala 2 – 0 Jayakodi MV, Ganemulla
