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The 16th edition of the ‘Deedat Zahira Super 16 soccer 7’s championship’ organised by the Past Prefects’ Association of Zahira (PPAZ) College Colombo, will get under way at Race Course International Stadium on the 1 October from 8 a.m. onwards.
After a lapse of few years due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most popular tournaments among top schools in the country will take place. However, this year’s edition will attract only schools from the Western Province.
PPAZ, the organising committee, has decided to invite 16 leading, football-playing schools from the Western Province considering the prevailing situation in the country.
The main tournament will be the under-18 category, which will serve as an ideal opportunity for youngsters to showcase their talents, skills and abilities on a larger scale, in an era where school football is in total disarray.
One of the important aspects of this year’s tournament is that these young kids will gain an opportunity to play in a venue where international football is played amides a packed stadium.
While Sri Lanka Football is making efforts to reach the pinnacle and gearing up for the 2030 World Cup, PPAZ are organising a tournament of this nature to unearth the youngsters’ skills to secure a place in the National pool.
Before the commencement of this tournament a qualifying round was conducted and the final 16 teams were picked in four groups. The top teams will move into the Cup Championship while the rest will surge ahead to play in the Plate and Bowl Championship respectively.
To coincide with this tournament the organisers have decided to conduct a tournament for under eight and 11 boys in between the break to give the young lads an opportunity to dribble the ball and showcase their talents, too.
The title sponsor will be Deedat with Gold Sponsor Trainocate, while the Chartered Institute of Management will be the Silver sponsor for this tourney. St. Joseph’s College, Colombo are the defending champions.
The teams: