Zahira and St.Henry’s favourites to win semi finals

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Two footballing power houses from the North and South are favourites to make it into the finals of the Kotmale Chox U19 Schools Football Championship.

Zahira College will meet giant killers St.Sebastian’s College; Katuneriya in the first semifinal while in the 2nd semifinal St.Herny’s College, Ilavalai will face Holy Cross College, Kalutara.

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Zahira College v St.Sebastian’s College

Reigning Champions Zahira College will be up against St.Sebastian’s College who beat last year’s runner-up, the star studded St.Peter’s College.

While Zahira doesn’t need any introduction to the football community, St.Sebastian’s are an infant in the school’s football arena.

seba v zahiraSt.Sebastian’s College – Katuneriya won against De Mazenod College 2-0 and 9-0 against Zahira College, Puttalam. However they lost 3-0 against St.Joseph Vaz College and eventual winners of the group St.Henry’s College.

St.Sebastian’s superior fitness levels showed in the second half of the quarter final against St.Peter’s as they fought back from a goal down to win 2-1. However they missed a few opportunities and if they are to win against Zahira they would need to be clinical when they get the chances.

Zahira College thrashed Royal College and Wesley College 5-0 and 7-0 respectively. Zahira gave a walk over to Holy Cross resulting in them becoming 2nd in the group.

Zahira will be boosted by the inclusion of enigmatic striker Mohamed Shaheel who is back from Sri Lanka duty while a few players will be returning from injury.

Zahira won a final worthy quarter final against Maris Stella 2-1 and having coached by former Sri Lanka and Air Force player and current Double Champions Colombo FC’s Mohamed Roomy, they will be firm favourites to make it to back to back finals.

The first semifinal will be played at 2.30pm on the 16th of February.

 LIVE – Zahira College v St.Sebastian’s College 

St.Henry’s College v Holy Cross College

St.Henry’s from the war torn Jaffna will fancy their chances of making it to major final when they meet the football hungry Holy Cross from Kalutara.

henry v holySt.Henry’s College won four of their group stage matches while drawing against De Mazenod College 2-2. St.Henry’s won against St.Sebastian’s College, St.Mary’s College and St.Joseph Vaz College. The lads from Jaffna have scored over 17 goals and have conceded only 2.

St.Henry’s defeated Dharmaraja College 4-1 in the quarter final.

St.Henry’s have two Sri Lanka u19 players in Jude Suman and Madushthan but will be without Suman due to a shoulder injury, which will be a significant blow.

Holy Cross won 5-1 against Wesley College and 2-0 against Royal College while they got a walkover from Zahira College which propelled them to top of Group D.

A lot would depend on Holy Cross play maker Nilesh Kavinda Kumara who was exceptional against Kingswood College when they defeated the lads from Kandy 4-0.

 LIVE – St.Henry’s College v Holy Cross College