Rahula, St. Thomas' clash in 11th Golden Pennant encounter

Priyan DE SILVA - Matara Sports Corespondent

The 11th annual football encounter between Rahula College and St Thomas' College Matara will be played tomorrow at the German Sri Lanka Friendship Football Stadium in Uyanwatta. This will be the fifth game in the series to be played under lights and will commence at 5.30 pm. Chairman and Managing director of Deen Brothers Imports (pvt) Ltd M N M Najeeb Deen, will be the chief guest.

This annual football match was first played in 2002. Kithsiri Liyanagama and Rathnasiri Suraweera who were the principals of Rahula and St Thomas' at the time together with Matara SP Premathilaka Hettiarachchi and Jagath Munasingha of Century Finance were those who initiated it.

The encounter was named the Golden Pennant Football Encounter.

The innaugural game was won by St Thomas' college three goals to two.

St Thomas’ College captain M A M Afshan

Rahula college captain W H Ravindu Lakshitha

The Century Finance Trophy which was awarded to the winners was carried away by Rahula college in 2009 after winning three games in a row. From 2010 the encounter has been played for the Ruhunu Masters Trophy. Rahula won in 2010 while St Thomas' won last year.

W H Ravindu Lakshitha leads the Rahula team this year. He is a fourth year player and a member of the Krida Shakthi National Squad. Yamindu Tishan also a 4th year player is his deputy. The rest of the squad comprise of M P Chegala Udayanga, D Lukshan Kavinga, Gayan Madhusanka, A P Minula Janisha, Dasitha Hasanka, Punaru Puwakdandawa, Nadun Nayantha, Ishara Malaka, Oapsara Jayasiri, Sameesha Ediriweera, Bashara Brian, Navin Bharatha, T K Wijesekera, Janith Lakpriya, Vishwa Sandakelum, Raveen Chathuranga and Gimshan Chiranga.

St Thomas' is led by M A M Afshan an experienced player who was adjudged the best player at last years game. Vice captain W A Rasika Sampath is a goal keeper of repute.

He was the goal keeper of the Sri Lanka Youth Football team that toured Iraq in 2008 for the Asian Youth Football Festival.

The Thomian team will be selected from Mohamed Saffar, Gamindu Hasanka, C B Weerappulli, Pabara Sudaran, W A H Ambepitiya, Shereen Jayasekera, Samindu Priyankara, Pasindu Lakshan, Ashen Bolling, K P Chameera Dilshan, R G Ashen Tharinda, Ravindu Madushan, Dilshan Thenuwara, Shasheen Dilshan, Pasindu Rashan, Hareen Gamlsha, Tharindu Marlon, Salindu Sasanka, Thejana Deshapriya, S H Febian Lakmal and K V Roshane Imesha.

Out Of the ten games played so far, both teams have won five each. The winners of the 11th encounter will lead the series.

Rahula College team: (Front row from left) M P Chegala Udayanga, D Lukshan Kavinga, W H Ramindu Lakshitha (captain), Sarath Rubsinghe (master in charge) , Nimal Dissanayaka (Principal), Percy Ranaraja (prefect of games), A B Weerappulli (coach), K G A Yamindu Tishan (vice captain), Gayan Madhusanka, A P Minula Janisha (Back row from left) Dasitha Hasanka, Punaru Puwakdandawa, Nadun Nayantha, Ishara Malaka, Oapsara Jayasiri, Sameesha Ediriweera, Bashara Brian, Navin Bharatha, T K Wijesekera, Janith Lakpriya, Vishwa Sandakelum, Raveen Chathuranga, Gimshan Chiranga. Pictures by Priyan de Siva – Matara Sports Corespondent

ST Thomas’ College team: (Front row from left) Mohamed Afshan (captain), M N Althaf (coach), Janath Mathangadeera (prefect of games), W B Piyatissa (principal), Shanthini Suraweera (vice principal), Manoj Mathangadeera (master in charge), Rasika Sampath (vice captain) (Middle row from left) Mohamed Saffar, Gamindu Hasanka, C B Weerappulli, Pabara Sudaran, W A H Ambepitiya, Shereen Jayasekera, Samindu Priyankara, Pasindu Lakshan, Ashen Bolling, K P Chameera Dilshan, R G Ashen Tharinda (Back row from left) Ravindu Madushan, Dilshan Thenuwara, Shasheen Dilshan, Pasindu Rashan, Hareen Gamlsha, Tharindu Marlon, Salindu Sasanka, Thejana Deshapriya, S H Febian Lakmal, K V Roshane Imesha