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• Expolanka team savours dream tour

It was for the very first time in Sri Lanka that football enthusiasts were afforded an opportunity to set their sights on an exciting experience at the Liverpool Football Club.

Early this year the Standard Chartered launched the international 5-a-side football tournament known as the Standard Chartered Trophy – ‘The Road to Anfield’, leveraging on its sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club. Teams played in a qualification tournament in each participating market with the regional winners travelling to Anfield to play on the hallowed turf.  

The tournament offered a ‘money can’t buy’ opportunity for participants to win a chance at playing on a Premier League pitch. The local competition was hosted in February on a round robin basis. Teams which participated included MAS Intimates, KPMG, MAS Capital, MAS Linea Aqua, MAS Legato, Walkers Tours, WNS, Hirdramani, Hemas, SGIT, Courtaulds and Expolanka as well as teams from Standard Chartered and Go Forward. Referees and officials from the Football Federation of Sri Lanka officiated.

In an exciting nail biting final WNS and Expolanka clashed for the top spot in the Standard Chartered Trophy 2015. Expolanka emerged winners with a 1-0 score. The Go Forward 1 team and the team from KPMG took 3rd and 4th place respectively. The Go Forward is local CSR initiative between SCB and the Government.

Win by Expolanka saw it take off to Mumbai in March to participate in the South Asia regional tournament against the teams from India. 

The matches in Mumbai were challenging but Expolanka successfully overcame a strong line-up of Indian teams representing New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Chennai, to emerge South Asian Champions. Coached by M.H. Rumy, the Expolanka was the only team to remain undefeated throughout the Mumbai-leg of the tournament.

The South Asian champs moved on to Anfield to compete with other regional winners with teams from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, UK, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Zambia.

Overall 750 teams participated in qualifying tournaments across 19 markets in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.  

The prize for the regional winners included a trip to the UK, dinner with LFC Legends and a chance to receive a professional training session with the Liverpool FC Academy coaches in preparation for the Finals. 

All matches were of 10 minutes duration. The first part of the tournament was played at ‘The Liverpool FC Academy’ and second half of the tournament (including the final), was played at Anfield.

The young Expolanka team savoured what is likely to be a once in a life time experience. The Expolanka Holdings team comprised Mohamed Aabid, Mohamed Akram, Abdur Rahuman Raheem Pallie, Mohamed Rawme Mohideen, Tuwan Rizni, Kasun Priyaranga Gomes Pattiyage, Mohamed Imthikhaff Fowzar and Mohamed Siraj Jain.

Though they couldn’t qualify for quarter finals, the Expolanka team played well despite the chilly weather in Liverpool. The Lankan team also fared better than previous South Asian Champions at the Standard Chartered tournament by scoring goals in Anfield, which others didn’t succeed in doing. 

The more competent Kenya and Vietnam secured easy victories against Sri Lankan team with scores of 4-0 and 3-0 respectively. However Sri Lankan team tasted their first success in hitting the net in the match against Zambia which the former lost 2-1. The match against Indonesia was momentous apart from being very close. Played at Anfield Sri Lanka began the contest by scoring two consecutive goals but couldn’t sustain the momentum as Indonesia clinched the game with a score of 3-2.

The tally of four goals was an unprecedented achievement for a team from South Asia in the Standard Chartered Trophy finals in Liverpool hence the young Expolanka Holdings team received commendation. Furthermore the overall experience, expert training and insights gained from the tour to Liverpool will be helpful for Expolanka soccer. The team met Liverpool FC first team player Fabio Borini and LFC Legend Kenny Dalglish. They also received exclusive coaching sessions led by Liverpool FC Legends Alan Kennedy, John Barnes and Ian Rush in preparation for the final round.

The ‘money can’t buy’ Liverpool FC opportunity should encourage more local corporates to participate in the next year’s tournament. 

Founded in 1892, Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs having won 18 League Titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, three European Super Cups and 15 Charity Shields.

South Korea crowned winners of 2015 Standard Chartered Trophy in Liverpool

Winners celebrate one of their goals

Runners up Kenya scores a goal

Team Korea celebrates victory of Standard Chartered Trophy at Anfield, Liverpool

Team Korea celebrates winning 2015 Standard Chartered Trophy in Liverpool at awards ceremony

'10 finalists teams at Liverpool FC Academy

All finalists teams at Anfield

A five-a-side team from South Korea have been crowned the winners of the fourth annual Standard Chartered Trophy, which took place at Anfield Stadium, the home of Liverpool FC, on Friday 8 May.

The international five-a-side football competition saw 100 attendees from 10 finalist countries, taking part in the Standard Chartered Trophy finals in Liverpool.

After winning domestic tournaments in their home countries, the teams who earned a place in the final stage of the tournament came from Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, UK, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Zambia.

Ahead of the tournament, participants had the chance to meet first team player Fabio Borini and LFC Legend Kenny Dalglish at a welcome dinner and take part in a tour of Anfield. They also received exclusive coaching sessions led by Club Legends Alan Kennedy, John Barnes and Ian Rush in preparation for the finals and were given the opportunity to meet first team manager Brendan Rodgers. 

“Coming to Liverpool and being involved in this event has been an incredible experience; playing on the pitch at Anfield is an honour and we are so happy to have been given the chance to do so. We are absolutely delighted to be crowned winners and would like to thank all the other teams for making this a strong competition,” said winning captain Dong Keun Lee.

Standard Chartered Global Head of Brand and Retail Marketing Basker Rangachari said: “This is the fourth year we have run the award-winning Standard Chartered Trophy, and each season it grows in popularity. We had thousands of clients and employees from across the globe sign up to take part in this year’s event and the response, as always, has been exceptionally positive.”

Liverpool FC’s Chief Commercial Officer Billy Hogan said: “Our partnership with Standard Chartered, and events like the Standard Chartered Trophy, allow us to deliver amazing events and experiences to our fans globally. With the recently announced renewal of our partnership with Standard Chartered, we will continue to deliver events of this calibre for many years to come. Congratulations to the winning team, South Korea, and all of the other teams that took part.”

Given its success the Standard Chartered Trophy was winner of the 2014 Best International Marketing Campaign at the BT Sport Industry Awards.

Founded in 1892, Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs having won 18 League Titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, three European Super Cups and 15 Charity Shields.

As a socially responsible business, Liverpool FC is proud of its heritage and plays a proactive role in its communities managing over 20 projects all-year round in education, social inclusion, health and sports development. Its contribution was recognised by the award of a Community Mark from Business in the Community

Liverpool FC is a global brand and works with leading edge commercial partners around the world providing unparalleled commercial opportunities. LFC remains the largest sponsorship in Standard Chartered’s history and has been very successful to date. The six year partnership started at the beginning of the 2010/2011 season. The initial four-year sponsorship has been very successful and in 2013 it was extended for until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group, with more than 90,000 employees and a 150-year history in some of the world’s most dynamic markets. SCB bank the people and companies driving investment, trade and the creation of wealth across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where it earns around 90% of its income and profits. SCB’s heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise: ‘Here for good’.