COLOMBO, May 21 (ePRESS) – Football Federation of Sri Lanka President Jaswar Umar announced that Sri Lanka’s two major domestic football tournaments, the professional Super League and the Inter-Club FA Cup tournament, will return next month, with the Super League scheduled to begin on June 12 and continue until November 15.
Speaking at a press conference held at Football House in Colombo on Wednesday, Umar said the Football Federation had already made major preparations to revive competitive domestic football and silence criticism over the lack of local tournaments.
Umar stated that financial grants would be distributed to 65 football leagues during the Football Federation’s Annual General Meeting to be held in Nuwara Eliya on June 6 before the FA Cup tournament gets underway.
The FFSL chief stressed that only professionally registered clubs that successfully complete the club licensing process would be allowed to compete in the Super League tournament. Ten leading football clubs have been selected for the competition, but several Colombo-based clubs had still failed to submit all required documents by yesterday.
“We have given those clubs time until midnight to complete the criteria. If they fail, we will remove them and continue the tournament with the remaining qualified teams,” Umar said.
He added that the Football Federation had already introduced a structured system to develop domestic football and rejected accusations that local football had been inactive for years.
“Some people say local football has not been played for years. That is not true. We conducted several tournaments and even completed the Super League which was interrupted due to COVID-19. We also organised provincial competitions and held 85 Champions League matches. Domestic football must be conducted through a proper system,” Umar explained.
He further pointed out that Sri Lanka was one of the few countries where football clubs receive financial assistance directly from the federation.
“We spend a huge amount of money on clubs. In most countries clubs find sponsors and manage themselves professionally,” he said.
The FFSL has introduced 22 criteria under its club licensing programme and seven clubs have already fulfilled all requirements to qualify for the professional competition.
The previous Super League tournament concluded in 2022 with teams such as Renown SC, Colombo FC, Ratnam SC, New Youngs SC, Blue Star SC, Navy Sea Hawks, Air Force Blue Eagles, Army Defenders, Upcountry Lions and Red Stars Beruwala taking part.
Blue Star SC emerged champions and received a cash prize of Rs. 5 million, while Navy Sea Hawks and Colombo FC finished as joint runners-up. All participating teams received prize money, with even the 10th-placed side earning Rs. 1 million.
