Fifty-six leading schools are expected to take part in the All Island under 18 boys’ and girls’ Hockey Tournament scheduled to be held at Albert F. Pieris Stadium Wennapauwa today (28). This four-day tournament is conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association, and the matches will commence at 8.30 a.m. each day.
According to the Secretary of the Schools Hockey Association Anuruddha Herath Bandara, this tournament is very important for school stickers as this will serve as the selection process for the National Under 18 pool. Schools Hockey is the platform to produce our National players and the Schools Hockey Federation has conducted many local tournaments to give match exposure.
This is one of the largest school tournaments, said Secretary of the Schools Hockey Association Anuruddha Herath Bandara who was a former National Hockey coach.
Preliminary round matches will be conducted on a league basis and the teams divided into four groups will compete in this league round. In addition, the second division boys’ tournament divided into two groups will compete in this tournament. This is after laps of six years, the All Island Hockey competition is played in Wennappuwa.
In the Major boys’ tournament, 24 leading schools will compete while 10 schools will compete for the division two tournament. 21 schools are competing at the major girls’ tournament.
The schools from Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Galle, Matara, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Kegalle, Kandy and Matale are expected to take part and cream of the school hockey will be showcased during the tournament.
St Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa, Holy Family Balika Wennappuwa and Wennappuwa Hockey Association have collaborated with the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association to make the tournament a success. The final match will be held on December 31 at 3.30 pm.
The winners and runners-up and the best players will receive awards and certificates from the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Federation.
Dhammika Ratnaweera