Sri Lanka’s first-ever junior football league formed

Sri Lanka is set to kick off its first-ever junior football league tournament, the FFSL President’s Youth Cup 2025, organized by the Manchester Soccer Academy (MSA) in collaboration with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).

The much-anticipated tournament will run   from January 13 to February 22, with matches hosted at the Race Course Grounds in Colombo and the Beddagana Football Complex in Kotte. The competition will feature two age categories: Under-14 and Under-16, offering a unique platform for young football enthusiasts across the  country. This premier league format will consist of over 35 evening matches, played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The FFSL President’s Youth Cup is the brainchild of former national footballer Augustine George, who currently serves as the Head Coach of Sri Lanka’s Under-20 football team. George, also the founder and managing director of Manchester Soccer Academy, expressed his excitement about the initiative. “We are thrilled to launch the FFSL President’s Youth Cup 2025 in partnership with the FFSL,” George said. “Our goal is to provide opportunities for school-going youth and players without access to football programmes at their schools. This tournament is designed to give them a   platform to showcase their talent and compete at a higher level.” George added that the tournament aims to open doors for young players to secure spots in prominent football-playing schools through scholarships. “So far, we’ve helped dozens of players who were recruited by top schools in Colombo.

This initiative will not only enhance their football careers but also contribute to their overall development,” he noted.

The tournament will feature eight teams from some of Sri Lanka’s leading football academies, including Manchester Soccer Academy (Race course), Saunders Sports Club, Colombo Football Club, Java Lane Sports Club, Colombo Youth Football Academy, Barcelona Football Academy, and Manchester Soccer Academy (Rajagiriya). The league format will see all teams compete in a   single group, with the top two teams advancing to the grand final.

FFSL President Jaswar Umar praised the collaboration, highlighting the federation’s dedication to nurturing young talent. “The FFSL is committed to advancing youth football, and this tournament is a key part of that mission,” Umar said. “Through our partnership with Manchester Soccer

Academy, we aim to create an environment where young athletes can refine their skills and gain valuable experience. This will undoubtedly contribute to producing future players for the national team.”

Source: Daily News