Renown Football Academy Blues topped the table after beating their counterparts Renown FA Whites by 4-1 in the third week of the Unity Through Football (UTF) Junior Under 10s League played at Havelock Park on Saturday.
In the opening match of the country’s first-ever junior football league among academies Java Lane FA scraped through to a 1-0 win against Henry Pedris FA after a close battle. At half time the match was evenly poised with both teams failing to score but M. Shakeek broke the deadlock with a well taken goal to be named the Player of the Match.
In the second game hosts Colombo Kickerz FA, who had won both their opening matches, fielded a changed side and couldn’t break open the solid defense of Cooray FA whose goalkeeper made several great saves. Rei Yamada of Colombo Kickerz was named the Player of the Match.
In the third match Renown FA Blues didn’t have it easy against their counterpart juniors Renown FA Whites who consisted mostly of Under-9 players. Even though Renown Blues took the lead through a goal by S.M. Shaffaq, Renown Whites equalised through a brilliant individual goal by Ayyash Arshad as the first half ended 1-1. In the second half Renown Blues found their groove and scored three goals with captain M.N. Jeff scoring two and Shaffaq adding another on his way to be named the Player of the Match.
“The purpose of the UTF Junior League is to give every kid a chance to play. “Each Academy is allowed to register 20 players with 12 players being part of the weekly match squad. Academies have made use of this to give more players the opportunity to play without focusing on results, which is a great move,” said Sritharan Peiris, of Renown FA, the organisers of the five-week competition.
The league is backed by Renown FA’s international award winning project called Unity Through Football which is supported by several international entities including national associations, clubs and foundations.
“The coaches, officials and parents are thankful that such a tournament was initiated as it gave their kids an opportunity to play competitive matches weekly in a friendly and fun atmosphere. It was a great motivation for the young kids to be the highlighted live like their football heroes in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesligaetc,” Peiris added.
The third week of Sri Lanka’s first-ever junior football league was hosted by Colombo Kickerz FA with the matches going live on Dialog TV and Social Media. The fourth week of the league will be hosted by Cooray FA.
