Colombo FC aiming for back to back Championships

Colombo FC started competing in the Colombo League in 2008, and they reached the pinnacle of Sri Lankan football in a very short period of time.

The team emerged runners-up in the 2014 edition of the Champions League before clinching the FA Cup that year, beating Blue Star SC, Kalutara in the final. They then went one better in 2015, winning the Dialog Champions League on the final day of the season, to seal their place in history.

2015 Campaign

Colombo FC entered the history books when they clinched the 2015 edition of the Dialog Champions League, winning by the narrowest margins of 1 goal, on goal difference, after they beat Army 2-0 in the final game of the tournament.

They were one of the best teams in the group stage and lost only one game all season, against Renown in the Super 8 stage which ended a 23 match winning streak in all competitions, and had player Bodrie Dimitri crowned MVP of the season as well.

Coach Roomy summing up his opinions on their 2015 performance had this to say,

“Really happy we were able to win the league in such a short time. As a team we played good football and had the backing of the management right throughout which were the main reasons we won the championship.”

2016 Campaign

Colombo FC underwent some changes in the off-season prior to the 2016 campaign with vice captain A.C.Frank returning home to Nigeria and star winger Bodrie Dimitri moving to Malaysia. Coach Roomy summing up their pre-season activity had this to say,

“It was a big loss for us, because they had been with us for nearly 3 years. This year we brought in a Japanese player and a Nigerian player along with 3-4 young talented schoolboys to strengthen the squad. We have tried to play the same way we did last season but the difference this year was that we aren’t as settled.”

Colombo FC did not have as great a group campaign this year as they did last time around winning 5 of their games, but losing the other 3, all against teams who made it to the Super 8.

Key Players

Afis Olayemi – Momas Yapo – Zarwan Johar – Rawme Mohideen – Mohamed Ramees

Afis Olayemi was the man charged with filling the big hole left behind by Bodri Dimitri and so far the former Solid SC forward has done a decent job and will play a key role for Colombo FC this season.

Rawme Mohideen and Momas Yapo formed the midfield core of the team that was so successful last year and whenever they play together as a team, they look a much better outfit.

Zarwan Johar has been a bit hit or miss this season and Colombo FC will be keen that their key attacker gets into some consistent form where he can deliver the match winning performances he is all too capable of producing.

At the other end of the field it is Mohamed Ramees who has been charged with leading a young backline and they will need him to keep putting in the big performances if they are to succeed this season.

Super 8 expectations

Going into the Super 8s there were specific areas the Colombo FC camp were particularly targeting on improving and speaking to ThePapare.com coach Roomy had this to say,

“Our finishing so far has been poor, we have got many chances in front of goal but the finishing has let us down. However day by day we are improving and in the Super 8s we will be playing on a great surface and hopefully we can finish our campaign with a title.”

It must be said that Colombo FC did miss many chances in their losses to Blue Star, Solid and Army in the group stage and better finishing could prove to be the tonic they need to reverse the results of those fixtures in the stage that matters.

However they will also rely on the fitness on Momas Yapo as the Nigerian central midfielder is one of their best players on the field.

All in all Colombo FC may not be the favourites to defend their title going into the Super8s, but they certainly have the talent in their squad to finish anywhere in the top 3 in the Super 8 campaign if they find the right combinations in midfield and attack.

Squad 2016