Former Sri Lankan national player and current Army SC striker Mohamed Issadeen has been appointed as the new Head Coach of Serendib FC, Mawanella.

Serendib FC is one of the emerging teams in the island having made it to the quarter finals in the Premier League Division I during the past two seasons. Adding to the decent run, they broke into the Round of 32 of the recently concluded FA Cup where they lost to Super Sun 2-1 in an engaging game.

In order to enhance their performance with the aim of becoming the champions of Division I in 2017, the management has chosen Mohamed Issadeen to take the helm.

Speaking to ThePapare.com the manager of Serendib FC Mohamed Nawzil said,

“Our aim is to play Champions League next season. We need a good coach to achieve the target. Looking at Issadeen’s coaching records we couldn’t find a better manager than that.”

“His addition as the head coach will benefit our young players. His experience and the knowledge about the game will definitely bring massive improvements within the team and we can expect good changes going in. We are looking forward to it.”

Mohamed Issadeen doesn’t need any introduction, his stats and records speak volumes. His service to football in Sri Lanka is immense and is still going strong.

He is known as the ‘Goal Machine’ of Sri Lankan football. In the last two editions of the FA Cup and Champions League, he won the Golden Boot award having scored the most number of goals in the competition for his team Army SC. The recently concluded FA Cup witnessed three hat tricks from the veteran.

One may argue that being a good player is one thing but bringing the experience to groom a team as a manger is something else. But Mohamed Issadeen has already proved that he can match his reputation as a player in the managerial role as well when he coached Thihariya Youth SC all the way to Champions League.

He coached Thihariya Youth SC for four years helping them win the Division I championship in his third year as the coach. Thihariya Youth SC defeated Crystal Palace FC, Gampola 1-0 to win the Division I championship in 2013 and earned qualification to participate in the Champions League.

Mohamed Issadeen spoke about his new journey of coaching Serendib SC to ThePapare.com,

“The team has performed well recently and has some experienced players. Sheron is a very quality player with lots of experience. I worked with him at Thihariya Youth also and that will make things easier for me since there will be an understanding. My aim is to promote the team to play in the Champions League.”

Speaking further regarding the need of having new additions to the club,

“There are plans to have new recruitments. But it is always a better option to find players from home soil and groom them and fit them into the team. That’s the long term plan and the motive of the team as of now.”

Becoming the Division I champions is no easy job next season. Teams including Java Lana SC will be fighting for the championship and are in red hot form at the moment. The emergence of new teams will add further flavor to the pursuit of the title.

A massive responsibility lies upon the shoulders of Mohamed Issadeen to build a team with the balance of experience and youth.