The future talent of South Asian football will be on show when the SAFF Under-17 Tournament, gets underway at the Race course Grounds in Colombo today. Sri Lanka will join South Asian heavyweights, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives in this six-nation tournament with the final scheduled for September 14. Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group ‘A’ along with Bangladesh and the Maldives while Nepal, India and Bhutan will battle it out for honours in Group ‘B’.
The Group ‘A’ winner will take on the Group ‘B’ runner-up in the first semi-final while the Group ‘B’ winner will face the Group ‘A’ runner-up in the second semi-final with both matches scheduled for September 12.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will begin their campaign for the title with their opening Group ‘A’ match against Bangladesh today, commencing at 7.00 p.m. However, the curtain raiser match will be between the Group ‘B’ favourites India and Bhutan with the kick-off scheduled for 4.00 p.m.
Sri Lanka’s second Group ‘A’ match of the tournament will be on September 9 against the Maldives at 7.00 p.m.
The Sri Lanka Under-17 Football Team: Muhamed Shuhaib (Muslim CC, Kalutara), Kunanesan Vithursikan (Kottawattai AMTMS, Velvettithurai), Aathif Ahamed (Nooraniya MMV, Mawanella), Roisan Bright (St. Henr’s College, Jaffna), Sachin Thrivendra (Vivekananda TMV, Anuradhapura), Risni Mohamed (Al Madeena MV, Murathamunai), Kirupanathan Ahash (Uduppiddy A. M. College Valvettithurai), Mohamed Rihas (Ameen MV, Kinniya), Ramika Methmin (St. Joseph’s, Anuradhapura), Mohamed Mufas (Al Aqsa NC, Kinniya), Jeyantha Anexsan (St. Joseph’s, Batticaloa), Sadew Thathsara (Kannangara College, Galle), Madawan Praveen (St. Sylvester’s, Kandy), Mohamed Fathith (Al Hikma College, Colombo), Mohamed Abdullah (St. John’s, Colombo), Mohammed Yasser (Mahabodhi College, Colombo), Nazmi Ahamed (Benhill College, Gampola), Fareeq Ahamed (Zahira, Colombo), Mohammed Sadeer (Zahira, Colombo), Kaleel Hifni (Central College, Kinniya), Thamodya Sarathkumara (Captain - Sri Sumangala, Kandy), Malindu Bandara (N. M. Perera MV, Yatiyanthotha) and Savindu Piumakara (Dharmapala MV, Ratnapura).
The schedule September 5: Bhutan vs India at 4.00 p.m. Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh at 7.00 p.m. September 7: Maldives vs Bangladesh at 4.00 p.m. Nepal vs Bhutan at 7.00 p.m. September 9: India vs Nepal at 4.00 p.m. Sri Lanka vs Maldives at 7.00 p.m. September 12 (semi-finals): Group ‘A’ winner vs Group ‘B’ runner-up at 4.00 p.m. Group ‘B’ winner vs Group ‘A’ runner-up at 7.00 p.m.
September 14 (final): Winner of semi-final 1 vs winner of semi-final 2 at 7.00 p.m.
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