Gateway Colombo emerge Football champs
In an all- Gateway final, Gateway College Colombo beat Gateway College Kandy to win the Under- 20 International Schools Football Tournament at the Federation grounds in Baddegana.
Gateway College Colombo cruised through the group stages defeating Elizabeth Moir School 5-0 and Lyceum Wattala 5- 2. In the Quarter Finals Gateway defeated Lyceum Nugegoda 5-0, and in the semifinals they defeated the British School Colombo 4-0. The final, held on the 27th October, saw Gateway Colombo beat Gateway Kandy. Striker Areeb Atheek scored twice as Gateway Colombo defeated their sister school 3-0 to claim the Under 20 championshiponce again.
The championship never looked in doubt as Gateway College midfielders controlled all the games, dominating possession with some slick passing and movement together with very strong link up play, which enabled the Gateway attackers to net 22 times. Left m i d f i e l d e r, Binitha Chandrasena, top scored in the tournament with eight goals. Meanwhile the Gateway goalkeeper was barely troubled as the Gateway defence, led by captain Rashane Wijewardena, was almost impossible to break through. Together with the midfield, the defence never allowed the opposition anytime with the ball,making the games one sided encounters.
Seshith Ariyawansa of Gateway Kandy was adjudged as Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, with two influential Gateway Colombo midfielders picking up the remaining awards. Areeb Niyas was awarded Most Valuable Player of the Final, and the often unstoppable Binitha Chandrasena as Player of the Tournament.
This is the third year that Gateway Colombo won this tournament during the last four years.
This tournament, named ‘The International Schools’ Football Under-20 Championship (FUTC 2018)’, was organised jointly by Gateway College and the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). All group stage matches were played at Gateway College’s new football facility in Ratmalana and the knockout stages were held at the Federation g rounds in Baddegana.