Sri Lanka’s most prolific sponsor of sports, Dialog Axiata PLC, will sponsor the Champions League for a record eleventh year in 2016, with 18 teams competing for the crown this year.
The Dialog Champions League 2016, Sri Lanka’s premier football tourney, will kick off at the Race Course Grounds in Colombo on Friday June 24th under lights.
The 18 teams will be divided into two groups of 9 where the four top teams from two groups will then feature in the ‘Super 8’ on a league basis to determine the Champion. The 2016 edition of the Dialog Champions League will feature 100 matches, 72 matches in the group stage and 28 in the Super 8’s, whilst over 60 referees and 50 commissioners will officiate at the games. Colombo FC emerged winners of last year’s tourney beating Army Sports Club in the decider.
“Football in Sri Lanka has gained immensely from the support received from Dialog Axiata for well over a decade, helping us elevate the standard of our football players representing Sri Lanka at national level,” President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, Anura De Silva stated in address.
“Currently we are pressured by FIFA and the AFC to apply ‘Club Licensing’ regulations if we are to participate in future AFC and FIFA competitions. Therefore, we are compelled to upgrade our main league standards to align with AFC regulations. This will pressure us to invest more on our top league activities, and we will need support from sponsors to help achieve these standards in the coming years,” added De Silva.
Photo Album – Dialog Champions League 2016 – Press Conference
“Dialog is privileged to further its partnership with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka over a decade, constant to our unremitting philosophy to propel local sports and talent to the international stage,
Football has grown its fan base in Sri Lanka, alongside strong performances by our teams both here and abroad, and at Dialog we are proud to empower that growth and development. I wish the 2016 Dialog Champions League and its players the very best,” added Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC.
Dialog is a prolific sponsor of sports in Sri Lanka, with a vision to develop and propel talent to the local and international stage. The company is also the proud sponsor of the national cricket, rugby and paralympic contingents.
Group A – Blue Star SC, Civil Security SC, Colombo FC, Crystal Palace FC, Matara City Club, Army SC, Negombo Youth SC, Solid SC, Up-Country SC.
Group B – Java Lane SC, New Youngs SC, Renown SC, Saunders SC, Air Force SC, Navy SC, Police SC, Super Sun SC, Thihariya Youth SC.
