Sri Lanka football is back to an interesting stage where the country stood twenty years ago as the players appear to be rejuvenated to give off their best on the field as they had done before.
Those were the years when some of the footballers were known to maintain standards to the level of India, Pakistan or Bangladesh and were performing in those countries with credit.
This is the picture that can be obtained with Sri Lanka doing exceptionally well by beating Bhutan 2-0 and holding Papua New Guinea to a scoreless draw at the FIFA Series, Sri Lanka Edition, that was held at the Race Course ground last week.
For a team ranked as low as 204 to beat a 108 ranked team like Bhutan is worthy of reckoning and the players have now displayed their ability to confront most teams in the Asian circuit in the future too.
President of Football Sri Lanka (FSL) Jaswar Umar has presented all 23 members of the squad with Rs. 450,000 each that comes as a big boost and motivation to the team.
After a scoreless first half it was coach Andy Morrison who infused a different strategy in the second half that brought Sri Lanka’s two classic goals scored against Bhutan.
Wearing jersey number ten Oliver James Kelaart was the cynosure of all eyes while the performance of Dillon Senan de Silva broke the initial deadlock.
De Silva chipped in a goal with his left boot that beat the goal keeper Hari Gurung. From that point the Sri Lankan players applied more pressure on the opponents with more teasing moves and De Silva’s performance won him the Player of the Match award.
To add to the joys of the Sri Lanka spectators, Kelaart increased the lead with a deceptive and accurate header that beat the goal keeper.
Thereafter the players of both teams stepped up their pace as Bhutan looked to score and the Sri Lankans defended stoutly and went through some anxious moments as well.
President Ranil Wickremasinghe talks to the captain of the Sri Lanka football team Sujan Perera in the presence of his team-mates, coach Andy Morrison (right) and Jaswar Umar president of Football Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (26)
As many as 14 players resident in other countries with Sri Lankan heritage have been taken into the fold to don the national jersey on the basis that their parents were born in the island.
They blended well with a combination of youth and experienced and a word of mention must also be made on the astute leadership of skipper Sujan Perera who saw to it that the players performed with cohesion and determination throughout the games.
Coach Andy Morrison expressed pride in his players who were disciplined and committed that overrode the opposition. “I am very proud of our players,” said Morrison from the United Kingdom.
Umar also emphasized the significance of FIFA’s support in elevating the standard of football in Sri Lanka once again.
With many spectators compelled to witness the matches standing in the absence of adequate seating capacity Jaswar said that there is a need to build a bigger stadium for football in the future.
The interest in the sport has been there for a long time and often large crowds thronged the venues especially to watch international teams perform.
President Ranil Wickremasinghe was happy with the team’s performance and had an audience with the team on Tuesday (26).
