SUPER SUN AND BLUE STAR HERALD DIALOG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ON SEP. 2
The clash between Super Sun SC Beruwala and Blue Star SC Kalutara will herald the Dialog Champions League Football tournament on September 2 at the Kalutara, Vernon Fernando Stadium, commencing at 3.30pm. The competition will be played until December 18.
18 teams will be taking part in the competition, which is being conducted by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. The tournament will consist of 158 matches where nine matches will be played mid-week and during weekends.
The teams taking part in the competition are: Defending champions Colombo FC, runnersup Renown SC, third place winners Blue Stars SC and fourth place winners Army SC as well as Super Sun Beruwala, Moragasmulla SC Colombo, Pelicans SC Kurunegala, Police SC, Up Country Lions SC Nawalapitiya, Matara City SC, Java Lane SC, Crystal Palace SC Gampola, Saunders SC, Negombo Youth SC, Solid SC Anuradhapura, New Youngs SC Wennappuwa, Navy SC and Air Force SC.
The winning team will receive a cash award of Rs.700,000 and the runners-up will receive Rs.500,000.
Each team is eligible to field three foreign players according to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. Last year it was stated that no foreign players will be allowed to play in the tournament but to increase the competitiveness of the tournament; foreign players have now been granted permission to participate. This year 30 playing members have been allowed to register for a team. Earlier it was only 25 players. All team have to register six Under 22 players to each team. This is a must. One of these Under 22 players will have to play in a half of each game. This has been done to give young players national level experience.