Army to breach Ratnam defence?

Bernard PERERA

Sri Lanka Army soccerites who made it to the final after along lapse will take on the defending champions Ratnam SC in today’s Dialog Premier League final at the CR & FC ground. The kick of is scheduled for 3.30 p.m. This final will also be of high interest to see how the two teams fare as both are trained by two well known former national soccerites Mojor S.Pathmanathan and M. Packeer Ali.

Sri Lanka Army this season became the only team to come to the final with a clean record after the completion of ten games in two stages. They maintained a steady progress throughout the tourney winning six matches and drawing four for this record.

Their opponents the holders of the premier League title failed to have clean record when they lost a game to Jupiters SC from Negombo in round one. But once they reached reached round two came up with a strong fight back to have a good run to come to the final.

Sri Lanka Army defeated Air Force in the semi final, while Ratnam SC beat Negombo Youth in the next semi final to make their way for today’s game.

The Ratnam SC were faced with few problems in round one as one of their star players Sri Lankan skipper Chathura Madhuranga’s services were not available due to an injury, but was back in the side to give a boost.

Sri Lanka Army’s strength and their rise was mainly due the efforts of national player Mohamed Issadeen the main striker and M.R.M. Murshid.

In fact Issaadeen was on road to bagging the ‘Golden Boot Award’ until the semi final stage when Kasun Jayasuriya with goals got past him during the second semifinal to make his tally to 13.

If Issadeen strikes form and scores three goals he can go past Jayasuriya. This can be achieved provided his team members lend support what they have given to him in the past.

The Ratnam team meanwhile is sure to face the biggest threat this season as they confront the best team in this tourney.

The team packed with many national players and former national players are expected to go all out to make it two in a row for the Kotahena Club. The coach Packeer Ali has kept the team in good shape throughout the season and they will have to deliver the goods today to pay for his untiring efforts.

The Army team’s defenders will have to use everything they have in store if they are to halt the goal hungry Kasun Jayasuriya and E. B. Channa from scoring as these two strikers are in good form.

These two players have got the additional strength with the mid fielder Chathura Maduranga back in the side. It is left to be seen how the Sri Lanka and Ratnam SC battle it out today to go away with most prestigious soccer award.

Though the Ratnam SC has a slight advantage with past and present national players doing services for them it looks like the soldiers taking another strong battle on the field of soccer playing against the most experienced set of players.

Both teams are hopeful of dishing out disciplined soccer to keep up with the Football Logo ‘Fair Play’.

This they have to do on and off the field to win the hearts of all and also to keep the game alive for the future. Today the team that plays classy soccer will definitely be the winner.

The organizers of these tournaments must take great care in arranging dates for these finals if they are to attract more spectators to ground. Playing games of high interest on working days will deprive the soccer fans from the working class of witnessing great games played on local soil.

When this happens can the Football Federation or the soccer loving public get the opportunity to promote the game here. It is the Public that gives comments from which the organizers and the sponsors benefit while the game too getting a boost.

The Army SC team from: K.K. Priyankara (Captain), M.N.M. Issadeen, K.W. Indrajith, K.P.D. Perera, M.D. Lasantha Kumara, N. Asanka de Silva, S. D. Kanna, M.R. M. Murshid, S.M. Fawmy, K.W.S. Danushka Wijesiri, H.D.N. Tillekeratne, P.H.S.N. Priyadharshana, S.A.D.L. Nirantha Perera, A.P. Ruwan Fernando (Goal Keeper), Y. Kakitha Jayatunge, P.G.R.K. premanayake, K.N. Pushpakumara, M. Sukarshan, S.D.S.S.K.Dahanayake, W.N. Kumara Sirisena, S.R. Susil Pradeep, R.N.A.M.A. Warakagoda, P.H.Paththinige

Ratnam SC team : Mohahamed Rawmy Mohideen (Captain), M.D.D. Senarath, P.S. Maduranga, J. Shean Silveira (Goal Keeper), S.K.Chathura Maduranga, A.A.F. Rahaman, W.A.L. tharusha, M.M.M. Ismirly, K.W.W. Jayasuriya, E.B. Channa, J.R. Pradeep Perera, M. Irshad arook, P.M.M. Mufshid, J. Sumith, Dudley L. Steinwall, J. Harisdeen, Francis Camilus, B. Shivanka, S.A. Dilan Danushka, P.H.N. Pushpakumara., M. Rizwan Shaish, Harshana de Mel, T. Mohamed Shafan, Jeord Dickoni, P.D. Malik Kigara.