The Super League Champions 2021 Blue Star Sports Club celebrate after receiving the Trophy at the Football Awards night on Thursday at the Imperial Monarch Hotel, Kotte from chief guest Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa. The team comprises MNM Fahir (captain), T. Kajakopan, Shenal Sandesh Pingho, MNM Fazal, AK Mohamed Ihsan, MF Mohamed Arshad, MM Mohamed Mazeer, HG Chalana Pramantha, B. Charidu Sampath, Tharindu Eranga, Supun Kaveesh, MN Mohamed Ammar, TA Azees, AC Ahamed Sahlan, L.Tharaka Silva, MSK Fernando, AM Mohamed Munfik, M. Mohamed Rifkan, MF Mohamed Rizan, Arepade Jerry Ombembe, Mouhamed Traore, Coulibaly Beidy, D. Meograth Gomes and Bashir Ameer
The Sri Lanka Football Federation felicitated its past and present players at a ceremony held at the Imperial Monarch Hotel, Kotte last Thursday.
It was highly notable to see the team that won the SAF Championship in the year 1995 which was also the first ever international Championship won by Sri Lanka being invited for the ceremony where they were honoured in a grand manner.
The only absentee from the team that won this Championship was Roshan Perera who passed away few years back.
All officials and the supporting staff of this team too were praised for their gallant work to win this Trophy. The victorious team was captained by Sampath Perera.
It was also the first occasion that Sri Lanka Football conducted an Awards Night for national players at a ceremony of this nature.
The present team too were honoured for their achievements though they failed to win a championship but performed well to win a few matches against foreign opposition.
The team was skippered by Sujan Perera who himself in a player with foreign exposure playing professional soccer out of the island. He was a tower of strength between the posts.
Blue Star Sports Club from Kalutara who won the recently concluded Super League were awarded the Trophy and a financial reward.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa addressing the players said: “Football is a game highly popular in Sri Lanka but unfortunately it took a back seat due to various reasons. Now with the present Management taking great pains in promoting the sport it can come up once again to challenge foreign teams as we did 25 years ago.
“If all players and officials make it a point to bring back soccer to its former level the Sri Lankan people too will cooperate to lend their support towards the game.
“If this is done in the right way I am sure that not only the fans but also sponsors too will promote the sport which can make a big difference.
“In Sri Lanka soccer fans talk about leading foreign footballers in the calibre of Messi, Ronaldo and Pele because they are well looked after by their clubs as well as their fans. This helps individual players and clubs to gain sponsors from leading firms and individuals as they too invest on the sport for its progress.”
The Minister further added that in 2023 Sri Lanka will be celebrating its 75th Independence Anniversary and to coincide plans will be made to conduct 75 sporting events to mark the occasion.