Four top teams will battle it out for supremacy in the opening two matches of the Football Sri Lanka (FSL) conducted Pre-League Football Tournament, which begins at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo today.
The first match will kick-off at 5.00 p.m. However the pick of the two matches would be the clash between New Young FC and Sea Hawks SC, scheduled for 8.00 p.m.
New Youngs FC have won several championships in the recent past and would look to make a winning start following their excellent performances in the President’s Trophy Invitational Tournament last year.
Meanwhile, Sea Hawks SC led by former Sri Lanka captain Subash Madushan will have the services of three foreign players and a coach from Japan who arrived in the country in January.
This is the first time in the history that Sea Hawks SC are coached by a foreigner holding a PRO license. They have also contracted another player from Ghana who is set to join the club at the end of this month.
Meanwhile two leading clubs from Kalutara District, Red Star SC and Blue Star SC will clash in the opening fixture.
Red Star SC coached by M. H. M. Hamsa will have the services of three Nigerian players in their ranks.
Defender M. H. M Rameez will lead the team in this tournament.
Blue Star SC, also possess a number of talented players and are expected to create an upset in this tournament.
The team will include two promising Under-19 players, Senal Sandesh and Mohamed Ammar, two great prospects for the future National Team.
All matches will be worked off under strict health guidelines under closed doors. All players, team officials and match officials underwent PCR tests yesterday and a further Antigun Test will be executed five hours before the commencement of the game.
