Sri Lanka National Women’s football team left Sri Lanka to participate in the 3rd SAFF Women’s Championship, to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The championship will start on the 11th of November and go on until the 20th of November, slated to be played at the Jinnah Stadium. India are the reigning champions of the tournament having beaten Nepal in the inaugural and 2012 finals 1-0 and 3-1 respectively.
Addressing a press conference, Lodhi said that all seven invited countries have confirmed their participation. Of them, Afghanistan’s team has already arrived in Islamabad.
He said that Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-khalifa president of the Asian Football Federation will grace the closing ceremony of the event to be held on Nov 20.
“This is the biggest ever women’s football event held in Pakistan in which all eight SAARC region countries are participating including host Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka,” the secretary said.
He said that this championship will change the world’s perception of Pakistan vis-a-vis gender discrimination.
To a question Lodhi said that fool-proof security would be provided to all the players and officials during the championship. “IPC Ministry and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) are providing all assistance to make the event successful.”
Sri Lanka are drawn in group B along with Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives, while Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal will meet each other in group A.
Sri Lanka women were the losing semi finalists when they hosted the tournament in 2012. They will be hoping to take another step forward and win the tournament this time around, as they have experienced players like Erandi Kumudumala, Praveena Perera, Achala Chithrani, Nilushika Kumari and Hasara Dilrangi who played and scored goals in the last SAFF Women’s Championship.
Sri Lanka Squad
A. M. A. S. Wijeratne – S. H. C. K. Jayaratne – N. S. Manawadu – R. D. L. R. Gunawardena – T. K. Anjela – H. N. D. Fernando – L. E. Kumudumala – S. A. H. Dilrangi – K. A. J. L. Silva – R. M. C. Kumari Ekanayake – K.P.K. N. Kumari – S. G. S. S. Subasinghe – Achala Chitrani – J. P. Ishara Madushani – K. Praveena M. Perera – H. G. N. Kumari – I. Malisha Nilini – A. A. N. K. Aluthge – K. D. N. C. Karunaratne – L. M. Withanage
Officials
01. Mr. T. A. Rahula Siriwardena – Chef De Mission
02. SSP. Pathmasiri Munasinghe – Manager
03. Mr. Thilak Alponsu – Head Coach
04. Mr. T. H. Burah – Asst. Coach
05. Mr. Saman Priyantha Dayawansa – Goalkeeper Coach
06. Mr. D.C. Iresha Nanayakkara – Physio
07. Mrs. D. Sudharma Jayawardena – Official
