Two strong teams to face Chennai Challenge

By Gamini Perera
To offer the football-loving public fare during the Vesak holidays, the Colombo Veterans Football Club has invited a formidable side from Chennai (Madras) to play two matches in Sri Lanka.

The first match will be between the visiting chennai Veterans Sports Club and the Super Masters XI to be played on Friday, May 16, at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The kick-off is at 4.00 p.m. and the chief guest will be Senior DIG, Gamini Randeni, President, FFSL.

The second match will be on Sunday, May 18 at the Reid Avenue (Racecourse ground) and the chief guest will be the CEO, of the FFSL, Chrysantha Perera. Kick off at 4.00 p.m.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Colombo yesterday, M. Premadasa, the co-ordinator of the Colombo Veterans SC said that both local teams will be very strong and are sure to give the visitors a torrid time.

"Our young soccerites have only heard of big names lime, P. D. Sirisena, A. Zainulabdeen, M. Amidon, Rumy Packeer Ally, to mention a few of those stars who represented the country, some years back. With this in mind, we requested the Super Masters XI to give a fixture for the visiting team, to which they readily acceded. Hence, this is a rare occasion for the youngsters to watch these players in action. They still have a touch of class in them and will be a big draw to the spectators," said M. Premadasa, also the Director, Logistics of the FFSL.

The following will represent the Super Masters SC against the Chennai Veterans SC: P. D. Sirisena, A. Zainulabdeen, M. Amidon, D. Chandrasiri (goal), R. Rumy Packeer Ally, Asoka Ravindra, M. Zaheer, S. A. Jabbar, M. T. Azeer (Naim), Pala Wijesekera, Sumith Walpola, Mahinda Palitha, Gamini Madurawela, T. F. Samath, M. Fagee, Saboor Mohideen, W. Wickremesinghe (Sanda), M. M. Rameez, M. M. Ariff, Lionel Pieris (Goal).

Reciprocal visit

The manager/treasurer of the Colombo Veterans SC, Ramanathan Puvanendran speaking to "The Island" said that the visit of the Chennai Veterans SC is a recicropal tour. "Our team toured Chennai last year and we played against this visiting team, and won by 2 goals to one, with Naina Mohammed and Jayashantha scoring for the Colombo Veterans. The score at half time was 1-1. Mr. Pullendran, the co-ordinator of the Chennai side requested me to arrange a tour of his side to Sri Lanka. I obliged".

"I must mention here that Mr. Manilal Fernando promised to bear the cost of the food for visitors from his personal funds and the team will be lodged at the football House, Independence Square. We are getting the fullest support from the FFSL for this tour," Puvanendaran said.

The Colombo Veterans team will be chosen from the following: Oliver Fernando (Captain), M. S. M. Badurdeen, R. Puvanendran, M. U. M. Azmi, M. S. M. Faiz, T. S. Sudar, C. Sridharan, Shantha Kumar (Rasa), H. B. Jayaweera, M. H. M. Farouk, T. Z. Lukman, E. Balendran Anthony, Naina Mohammed, M. Azeez, A. Devendran, K. Ramar, G. J. Premalal (Goal), Jayashantha Perera, M. H. M. Nawroos, B. R. A. Preena, Sampath Perera, R. Udayasiri, D. Premasiri, H. K. Sarath.

Coach: M. S. M. Faiz.

Entrance for both matches are free. The Chennai team arrives on May 15 and will leave on May on 19, 2003.