The Sri Lanka U18 football team left Sri Lanka on Monday to participate in the 42nd Asian Schools’ Football Championship which will be held in Solo, Indonesia.
The 20 man Sri Lankan squad comprises of a host of outstation players and is captained by Vishwa Dineth Sankalpa from Thurstan College. Dineth has an experience playing for the U16’s and u18’s and also captaining the side. The team also includes Ashen Jeewantha Fernando, Subhashana Fernando, Kasun Sandeep all three from Maris Stella Negombo, Afeel Mohamed from Hameed Al Husseinie, Mohamed Uzman from Zahira College all of whom have been in excellent goal scoring form in the Kotmale Chox U19 Football Championship.
Speaking exclusively to ThePapare.com Vishwa had this to say. “It is great to be captaining the Sri Lanka u18 team. This is my second time captaining the U18’s in a tour. We have a great bunch of players from different parts of the country. It is going to be a huge experience for all of us playing against other Asian schools’ players. We hope to do well in the tournament.”
Head coach of the Sri Lanka U18 team Shirantha Kumara was optimistic about their chances in the tournament. “We have a good, experienced squad. Most of whom have played for Sri Lanka before, so that will an advantage. Other Asian teams play a different style of football to us so we need to adapt to them as well.
“Ideally we would have wanted to have some more practice sessions but the weather wasn’t too kind for us. The preparations for the tournament haven’t gone to plan but I am confident about the ability of the boys. Most players got the opportunity to represent their school in the recent tournaments and are up to match practice.”
Squad
1. Vishwa Dineth Sankalpa – Thurstan College, Colombo 7
2. Mohomed Rosan – Al Aqsa Maha Vidyalaya, Kinniya
3. Mohamed Humaid – Zahira College, Colombo 10
4. Mohamed Uzman – Zahira College, Colombo 10
5. Subhashana Fernando – Maris Stella College, Negombo
6. Kasun Sandeep – Maris Stella College, Negombo
7. Jeewantha Fernando – Maris Stella College, Negombo
8. Riyas Ahamed – Zahira College, Mawanella
9. Mahinsa Pramuditha – Richmond College, Galle
10. Rasika Viraj Gajasinghe – Richmond College, Galle
11. Sanjaya Lakshan – Mahinda College, Galle
12. Gimhana Aththanayaka – Wickramabahu M.V, Gampola
13. Hasitha Eranga – Ananda College, Colombo 10
14. Haritha Prabashwara – Ananda College, Colombo 10
15. Kuruppuge Thenura – Ananda College, Colombo 10
16. Malik Rajakaruna – S.Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura
17. Madushan Podiarachi – Kingswood College, Kandy
18. Afeel Mohamed – Hameed Al Husseinie College, Colombo 10
19. Mohamed Rahuman – Hameed Al Husseinie College, Colombo 10
20. Mohamed Manazeer – Muslim M.V. Gampola
Sarath Rathnaweera – Manager
Shirantha Kumara – Head Coach
Video – Interview with Vishwa Dineth U 18 Captain
