Cargills Food City has heralded a new era in Sri Lankan Football with its latest partnership with the Football Federation in the Sri Lankan edition of the FA Cup, a longstanding tradition of the game.
The Football Association Cup commonly known as FA Cup first initiated in 1871 in England, is a knock-out competition which is normally conducted by each National Football Association. The FA cup is unique for football clubs as it involves clubs of all standards playing against each other where the possibility for the minnows from the lower divisions to become giant killers by eliminating top ranked clubs from the tournament and even win the prestigious FA cup.
The 2013 edition of the FA Cup will feature 173 teams from all over the island which will translate into 172 matches in over 100 venues across the country. The defending champions of FA Cup are Sri Lanka Navy. Saunders from Price Park are over 20 time winners of the FA Cup while Ratnam and Renown are next with 6 and 5 FA Cups.
Mr. Sidath Kodikara, Chief Executive Officer of Cargills Foods Company (Pvt) Ltd said the tie up was a part of a long term strategy of the Group to support the empowerment of youth through sports.
“Football is a game that touches ordinary people in extraordinary ways. In that sense the game’s spirit is aligned to Cargills Food City and our own philosophy of making an impact on the lives of ordinary Sri Lankans. “
Mr. Kodikara added that Cargills has been synonymous with youth development and the Group has in the recent past put its strength behind several national sporting events. “Through our relationship with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and FA Cup we would strive to build a new generation of outstanding Football players. We believe the game has a long way to go in Sri Lanka but it cannot reach its full potential unless the Football Association is able to rally the Country and specially the youth around it. “The success of games such as cricket and rugby has been how attractive the game is to young people in terms of the glamour and the prestige attached. This is a journey that Cargills has committed to partner in the long term, to help bring national football to the forefront,” he said.
The first ever Ceylon FA Cup was played in 1949. Saunders created history by beating Police by 1-0 in this first ever encounter. The Saunders & Sri Lankan legend P.D. Sirisena who is referred to as Sri Lanka’s Pele holds the record of being the player who has scored the most number of goals in one season with 24 goals to his credit.
He also holds the record as the highest goal scorer in the final with 6 goals against his name against the Wellawatte Spinning & Weaving Mills Club in 19960. Both these records are unbroken for over 50 years.
The Champions will receive a cash price of LKR 750,000 and Runners Up will get LKR 500,000. There will be awards for the Golden Ball & Golden Boot and the Fair Play.
The Chairman of FFSL Marketing, Mr. Trevor Reckerman endorsed the sentiments expressed by Cargills in this latest venture. It intends to work closely with its new partner to build a new national transformation of the Football spirit and take it to all corners of the island over the next 03 years.
The FA Cup 2013 will be bigger and bolder and designed to bring the fans back to the game they love so much. “Exciting days are ahead” he said, promising that the organization of the event will reach new heights!
