Manchester Soccer Academy Sri Lanka to celebrate its first anniversary has organized a junior international tournament for ‘Manchester International Independence Cup’ to be held at the Race Course Grounds on March 24th and 25th.
The tournament will be for Under 15 soccerites and will consist of 20 teams including six foreign teams five from from Maldives and one from India.
These details were disclosed at a press briefing held at the FFSL Auditorium last Thursday. This tournament will be the first kind to be organized in Sri Lanka.
Detailing the aims and objectives of the tournament, Muheed Jeeran Director of International Affairs and Advisor to Manchester said, “We are conducting this tournament to celebrate the First anniversary of Manchester Academy as well as the 70th Independence of Sri Lanka.
It also gives the opportunity to build friendship through sports with the neighboring countries and also to give the local kids the much needed international exposure which is lacking in Sri Lanka at present”.
He added that during the tournament 20 former national players will be honored by Manchester Soccer Academy. These 20 former national players will be the chief guests during the league stage and will give away the Man of Match Awards.
And the winning captains of the teams on behalf of Manchester Soccer Academy will honor these former national players with replicas.
Addressing the media, the founder president of Manchester Soccer Accademy, Augustin George said, “It is my dream that one day Sri Lanka win back another international Trophy. It was way back in 1995 that we won the SAARC Gold Cup and I am proud and happy to have Anton Wambeck one of the champion team members to be the head coach of our Academy. We established the academy with the main aim of producing quality players to the clubs in Sri Lanka and to the national side.”
He also stated that Manchester Soccer Academy teams had taken part in several tournaments and performed well.
“We have taken part in several tournaments at junior level and last year two of our teams toured Maldives and took part in the tournament named
Hulumale Milo Cup. One of our teams was placed fourth and it was a great achievement for us. It gives us more confidence that we can go forward to reach greater heights. I also want to bring back to memory is, that as kid, I have seen vast football lovers jumping over the fence to get into the grounds to watch football matches.
Such was the interest and enthusiasm shown during those days and we are trying our best to create the same atmosphere in the near future which will definitely help Sri Lanka Football reach better standards.”
Augustine George thanked the President of the FFSL for giving the auditorium free of charge to conduct the media conference and giving other facilities.
He also said that Manchester Soccer Academy is looking forward to have a principle sponsor and if it is achieved the tournament could be played under the name of the principle sponsor.
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