Will Ratnam make it a double today?

Bernard Perera

SOCCER: Ratnam Sports Club from Kotahena who won the recently concluded kit Premier League Soccer Championship will take on the runners up of the tournament Blue Star SC from Kalutara today in the final of the Kit Champion of Champions at Sugathadasa Stadium. Play is to commence at 5.00 p.m.

Both Ratnam SC and Blue Star SC have touched the trophy before. Ratnams are the first holders while Blue Star won it the second year and the next year saw the trophy go to Negombo Youth SC. with both teams having touched this trophy will go flat out to take the same for a second time.

Ratnam SC come out today for the game as firm favourites as they have completely dominated in the two previous games they played against Blue Star SC in the Kit Premier League.

Ratnams in the first stage game played in Colombo thrashed the Kalutara team by seven goals to nil, later in the return match which was played at Blue Star SC's home den Ratnams came up with a brilliant performance to beat them for the second successive time by three goals to one.

These two victories by the Kotahena team proves the strength of their strikers Kasun Jayasuriya and Chathura Maduranga. These two have kept the Ratnam flag flying right through the season. In fact Kasun has become the highest goal getter scoring a tally of 27 goals. He has been the main stay for his side.

Kasun has the support coming from his other partner Chathura. He too has been scoring heavily during the season.

The two strikers who are in the national pool has the fullest co-operation from their skipper and national poolist Rawmy Mohideen who mans the midfield. His combination with Kasun and Chathura saw Ratnam reach the top this season.

Ratnam's defence line and the custodian too have played well for their team. The defenders have held the fort very strongly against all top teams they played against. Their powerful defence eased the work load on the custodian who too was at his best during the past season.

Meanwhile Blue Star SC come out for the final with a fine record in this series. They have appeared in all three kit champion of champions finals. But managed to win only the second year.

Blue Star SC from Kalutara reached the final when they completely outplayed the Negombo Youth SC in the semi final three goals to nil.

This game was the worst defeat Negombo Youth suffered in the season though the team is packed with many national players. Kalutara Clubs victory over Negombo Youth proves their capabilities of toppling any strong outfit they confront at crucial moments.

Mohamed Farzeen the man behind semi-final win with a hat trick of goals will be the man to watch in today's game. Farzeen has been the mainstay for Kalutara team with the other striker Mohamed Fawzan.

Fawzan-Farzeen combination will have to work hard in today's game if their team is to return to Kalutara with the trophy. Two of these strikers want them to be fed with the ball at every given moment.

Skipper of the side Mohamed Hamza who controls the defence line will have to be very watchful as Ratnam strikers are sure give a torrid time for defence and the custodian. Hamza while defending will have to feed his mid fielder so that they will make things easy for the strikers to penetrate the defence of their opponents.

The result of today's game cannot be predicted early as both teams enter the fray with full of steam. But the only thing that can be said is the defence that falls apart will go empty handed.