The Vantage FA Cup Championship 2019 has reached its final stage with 32 teams making their way and is set to kick off from December 21.
The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) had to work hard to arrive at the final stage by conducting 795 matches in three stages, Preliminary, District and National where 827 clubs competed. They represented 63 Leagues.
The Preliminary stage was worked out on a league basis and switched to knock-outs to find the 32 teams for the final stage.
Two semi-finals are scheduled to take place on January 18 and 19 while the grand final will kick off on January 24 under lights for which the venue is yet to be finalized.
The prize money has been increased from 500,000 to 700,000 while the runners-up prize money to has gone up to 500,000 along with trophies according to the organisers.
Defender SC (Army) won the first Vantage FA Cup last year and will go flat out to win it this year too.
The Championship conducted by the FFSL had support from Ebony Holdings as the sponsor for the second consecutive year.
Marketing Manager of Ebony Holding the manufacturers of Vantage Garments Mohamed Musfir said that the Company’s main intention is not only to promote his company but to promote the game of soccer in Sri Lanka.
“Football is a game respected by all but it had a bad patch in the past few years. I can see the FFSL taking great strides to promote the game with a target to reach the highest levels,” said Musfir.