The much-awaited Dialog Beach Soccer championship 2021 kicked-off on the golden beaches of Hambantota yesterday under the aegis of the sport’s governing body, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
The main aim of this championship is to promote beach soccer around the island and to identify and develop new talent for the Sri Lanka beach soccer national squad.
Twelve teams, Hambantota Kings, Hambantota Hornets, Matara Marines, Matara Eagles, Galle Stallions, Galle Giants, Ambalangoda Titans, Ambalangoda Avengers, Beruwala Blues, Beruwala Lions, Kalutara Royals and Kalutara Knights are in the fray.
“Beach soccer is a game we can really work on and create multiple victories. The game can be a successful one if we make a sustainable strategy with dividends to come about through exposure at an international level.
This could also materialize as a tourist attraction for the country by welcoming international events which could be hosted in Sri Lanka.
We have some of the most beautiful beaches for tourism and we have the leverage of being able to train players to perform better as the game is played within a small perimeter with a fewer number of players on the field, which is technically an added advantage for Sri Lanka,” said Anura de Silva, the president of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.