Colombo Athletic earns historic IberCup invitation through AC Milan partnership

Colombo Athletic Football Club President Ajai Vir Singh (second from left) addressing the media. Others (from left): Colombo Athletic Football Club COO Chethaka Ekanayake, Cinnamon Grand Colombo General Manager Nazoomi Azhar, and Prima Marketing Manager Himpa Gunawardana – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

The team for the IberCup: Akein Ekanayake (captain), Adnaan Ali, Shatein Saheed, Aamish Wasim,  Nathan  Samuel, Arian Singh, Senal Arsecularatne, Yasiru Dissanayake, Nicolas Stefan, Myron Fernando, Thashwin Sudharshanan, Amaan Morris, Deigo Mudiyanselage, Umar Mashood, Ethan Fonseca, Aaron Fernando

By Michelle Therese Alles

A 15-month-old Sri Lankan football academy has been invited to one of the world’s leading youth football tournaments, marking a significant milestone for youth football development and international sporting exposure in the country.

Colombo Athletic FC last week announced that its U17 team will travel to Estoril, Portugal, from 30 June to 5 July to compete in the IberCup, becoming the first Sri Lankan football academy to receive an invitation to the competition. 

The 16-player squad will compete against teams from Portugal, Spain, Colombia, Egypt and the United States, providing young Sri Lankan footballers with exposure to international competition and playing environments rarely accessible to local players.

The IberCup has served as a launchpad for some of the biggest names in world football today. Among its distinguished alumni are Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias of Manchester City, Rafael Leão of AC Milan, Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, and João Neves of Paris Saint-Germain — players who now compete at the very highest levels of the game.

Colombo Athletic FC President Ajai Vir Singh attributed the achievement in part to the academy’s long-term partnership with AC Milan Academy and its adoption of the Italian club’s training framework.

“AC Milan Academy is one of the most respected academies in the world,” Vir Singh said. “We follow their curriculum and methodology. Their approach is highly scientific,” he further said. 

The invitation represents a notable achievement for an academy that has been in operation for little more than a year. Vir Singh said the coaching model had accelerated player development since the academy’s establishment in November 2024 and helped position the club for international opportunities.

“We are the only academy in Sri Lanka that uses an international training curriculum,” he said, adding that the program had already shown positive results among players who had previously trained elsewhere.

Colombo Athletic FC COO Chethaka Ekanayake described the invitation as a landmark moment for both the academy and Sri Lankan football.

“This is the first time that we have been invited to one of the top three youth football competitions in the world. It’s a milestone for both Sri Lanka and our club,” he said.

Ekanayake said the opportunity would help create future pathways for young Sri Lankan footballers seeking international exposure and experience.

The academy views participation in the tournament as an opportunity for players to experience higher levels of competition while broadening their understanding of the modern game.

Vir Singh noted that competing against teams from diverse footballing cultures would provide valuable learning opportunities that cannot easily be replicated locally.

The players themselves see the tournament as an opportunity to represent both their club and country on an international stage.

Colombo Athletic FC U17 Captain Akein Ekanayake said the squad had undergone intensive preparations ahead of the tournament. “Our training sessions have been intense, and everyone has been giving their best in preparation for the tournament. This is about coming together as a team and showing people what Sri Lankan football is like. Everyone is proud to represent Sri Lanka and be part of history,” Ekanayake added.