The much-awaited Dialog Beach Soccer championship 2021 will kick-off on the golden beaches of Hambantota on April 03 under the aegis of the sport’s governing body, the Sri Lanka Football (SLF).
The main aim of this championship is to promote Beach Soccer around the island and to identify and develop new talent for the Sri Lanka Beach Soccer National squad. This will be the first of four beach soccer championships with matches to be played in Velvetithurai, Kalmunai and Negombo tentatively.
The first leg of the Dialog Beach Soccer tourney will be played in Hambantota amongst 12 teams namely; Hambantota Kings, Hambantota Hornets, Matara Marines, Matara Eagles, Galle Stallions, Galle Giants, Ambalangoda Titans, Ambalangoda Avengers, Beruwala Blues, Beruwala Lions, Kalutara Royals and Kalutara Knights.
Dialog, which has been a vital part of the success and development of Football in Sri Lanka for so many years has once again joined hands with the FFSL as the title sponsor of the “Beach Soccer Championship 2021” to assist in the further development of the game in the country.
President of the SLF, Anura De Silva,said “Beach Soccer is a game we can really work on and create multiple victories. The game can be a successful one if we make a sustainable strategy with dividends to come about through exposure at an international level. This could also materialise as a tourist attraction for the country by welcoming international events which could be hosted in Sri Lanka.
“I wish to thank the efforts put in by the Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee of FFSL and appreciation also should go out to Dialog for the support given in developing sports in the country and for their commitment to football over the years,” concluded De Silva.
Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee Chairman, Mohamed Rameez, said, “It is a great moment for the overall development of football in Sri Lanka. Our country has always had great potential to play Beach Soccer, and finally, we are taking strides to achieve this. We will use these tournaments to identify top talent in Beach Soccer and to create a Sri Lanka Beach Soccer National Team worthy of competing in an international arena .
“Dialog is proud to be associated with the SLF to kick-start a sport much loved by Sri Lankans that has taken a back seat owing to the COVID-19 global pandemic,” Harsha Samaranayake, Senior General Manager – Brand and Media, Group Marketing of Dialog Axiata PLC said.
“Football is by far the most followed sport in the world and amalgamating the sport to the sandy beaches around Sri Lanka is an obvious choice to develop the sport and it is an excellent opportunity for the Sri Lanka youth to reengage in sports.
(AN)
