National team in high spirits in crucial Asia Cup fixture

Tuesday, 10 June 2025 02:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

FFSL President Jaswar Umar (right) talks to national team playersas Head Coach Abdullah Almuthairi looks on

By Althaf Nawaz

The national football team will go all out to maintain their winning streak and keep their hopes alive when they take on fancied Chinese Taipei (CT) in a crucial Asia Cup 2027 (Saudi Arabia) fixture at the Racecourse Stadium tomorrow, with kick-off scheduled at 3:15 p.m.

After shattering a 16 year hoodoo by edging out Brunei 1-0 in a friendly in Thailand few days back, the footballers are fully pumped up to put up an enthralling performance against the 166th ranked CT, not only to achieve victory but to keep their hopes alive to surge ahead in the remainder of the tournament.

It was a swashbuckling performance by the entire team to notch up a win against Brunei, to whom they lost few months ago. This win in Thailand has pushed up the FIFA rankings to 198 from 200, which is good omen for the team.

All these achievements became a reality due to the hard work of incumbent FFSL President Jaswar Umar and his indefatigable team, who have strived hard against many obstacles and challenges. Jaswar was instrumental in obtaining the support of Qatar’s Aspire Group and securing the much-needed foreign coaching staff for almost three years.

President Umar’s bold and strategic vision to rebuild Sri Lanka’s national team has paid off significantly within a short span — something his predecessors were unable to achieve over several years. Football experts across the region have praised the move, calling it one of the most effective and daring football strategies adopted in South Asia.

“This pace of development is rare,” said one regional analyst. “If momentum is maintained, Sri Lanka could soon challenge even India, the current regional powerhouse.”

A win in the upcoming home fixture on 10 June in Colombo could lift the team to 196th, making it one of the fastest upward moves by a South Asian nation in recent FIFA ranking history.

Football fever is gripping the nation, with fans rallying behind the Lions. The rise of football in Sri Lanka is no longer a distant hope — it is unfolding now, under remarkable leadership and renewed national spirit.

“Well, it has been a tough journey so far, but I am determined to give the best for the country. We were able to bring the national team from nowhere to somewhere and we are pretty confident we can reach our goal and make football make headlines in all media in the country. Our aim is to become the giant in South East Asia in the game while moving up the rankings.”

“We want to attract more crowds to witness the games and support our team and expect to have a full house tomorrow,” said Jaswar.

When inquired about team preparation, he said: “We managed to house them in Thailand for some time before the last game. With the blessings of Almighty our boys are likely to turn tables on Tuesday,” concluded Jaswar.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.