COLOMBO, October 22, (ePRESS) – More than 12,000 schoolboys and schoolgirls from 620 teams across Sri Lanka are set to compete in one of the island’s largest youth sporting events, the CBL Samaposha Under-14 Inter-School National Football Championship 2025. The tournament is organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SSFA) under the guidance of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
The championship, sponsored by CBL Samaposha for the 14th consecutive year, was officially launched at a lively press conference on Tuesday at The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo.
Tournament format and venues
The championship began on October 21 and will continue until November 10, with first-round matches staged at 32 centres across all 25 districts. The second round is scheduled from December 5 to 7 at the Dadalla Sports Complex, BTS Ground, and FFSL Ground in Galle, while the finals will be held on December 13 at the Racecourse Grounds, Colombo.
A total of 32 boys’ teams and 25 girls’ teams will advance to the second round. Awards will be given for the best players, goalkeepers, and champion and runner-up teams in both boys’ and girls’ categories from each district, ensuring representation from across the island.
CBL Samaposha commitment to youth football
At the launch, CBL Food Cluster Director and CEO Manjula Dahanayake emphasized the company’s dedication to youth development:
“CBL Samaposha proudly continues its long-standing sponsorship of the Under-14 National Football Championship. We aim to nurture youth football, teamwork, and discipline across Sri Lanka. As a homegrown brand, investing in our young talent and supporting national sporting excellence is our priority.”
SSFA President Bandara Leelarathne called the tournament a cornerstone of the school football calendar:
“This is the first major football tournament in Sri Lanka schools branded as the ‘Samaposha Tournament’. It plays a vital role in promoting football among our youth,” he said.
Samaposha, a flagship product of CBL Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd, is Sri Lanka’s leading nutritional breakfast cereal. The brand also supports the health of children and the livelihoods of local farmers.
Last year’s exciting finals
The 2024 championship saw thrilling finals, with Kalutara Muslim Maha Vidyalaya winning the boys’ title after defeating Stafford International School, Colombo, while Jaffna Mahajana College, Tellippalai, claimed the girls’ trophy by overcoming Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala.
