COLOMBO: (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka Football President Jaswar Umar announced the launch of the Sri Lanka Youth League, Y19, in partnership with the Lyca Gnanam Foundation at the Hotel Taj Samudra on Monday.
“Sri Lanka football is on the rise in the past few months. We have witnessed a lot of events, a lot of changes, a lot of energy, a lot of new initiatives. We are changing football into a people’s game, because football is a people’s game,” said Umar.
Umar expressed pride in the national team’s progress, highlighting the integration of Sri Lankan-origin players from global leagues. “Our national team is becoming stronger and stronger than ever before. We brought players from Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, who have Sri Lankan roots. Some of these top players have joined the Sri Lankan national team, and it’s becoming stronger and stronger. We are moving towards victory.”
He emphasized the recent successes of the national team in international matches, playing against European, African, and Oceanian countries. “Our vision is to win the South Asian Championship next year, which will be the 30th edition,” he added.
The launch of the Y19 league marks a significant step in developing youth football in Sri Lanka. “Today, we are joining hands with the Lyca Foundation, one of the prominent groups. Our future is our youth. We have built our national team in a stronger way, and now we are getting into the second stage: building our future with the youth.”
Umar underscored the importance of establishing a strong official league in Sri Lanka, noting the country’s vast pool of football talent. “There are 67 sporting federations in Sri Lanka, but football is the only game played in every corner of this country. We have about 30,000-50,000 players.”
The new youth competition, Y19, aligns with FIFA’s introduction of the Under-20 World Cup every year, providing a significant opportunity for young players. “Asia will get about six slots, and in the future, you may see one of the Sri Lankan teams qualify for the Under-20 World Cup. Similarly, the Under-17 World Cup will also be played every year.”
“This is a positive start by FIFA for the world, ensuring that every child has an opportunity to play in a World Cup. This changes their lives significantly. The Under-19 age group is crucial as it determines the pathway of youth from school to a professional career.”
Umar concluded by noting the international support for the Y19 concept. “When we launched the Y19 concept, the Asian Football Confederation Chairman was here in Sri Lanka last month, along with representatives from 47 countries. They loved it.”
