Army Highlanders Carry Away Inter Regiment Football Championship

The Army Inter Regiment Football Championship - 2017 drew to a close Wednesday (9) evening at Colombo Race Course grounds, inculcating hopes for a new breed of budding footballers of high standards in the future.

Football teams of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Sri Lanka Artillery, Sri Lanka Engineers, Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Gemunu Watch, Gajaba Regiment, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, Commando Regiment, Military Intelligence Corps, Corps of Engineer Services, Sri Lanka Army Service Corps, Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps, Sri Lanka Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps and Sri Lanka National Guard competed in the tournament for the trophy.

The final tussle between Gemunu Watch (GW) and Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC) footballers gave an easy win to the Highlanders (GW).

A distinguished gathering, including Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, Senior Officers, Major General Athula Kodippili, Chairman, Army Football Committee and a gathering of football fans witnessed the finals at Race Course grounds.

The victorious GW team endured a rocky ride in the first half of the match but beat the opponents to hit the top gear, amid a burst of thundering applause as the tussle was reaching a climax. The winners’ score stood 2 to 0 as the match came to a close.

Trophies and certificates to the winners were given away by the Commander of the Army as the year’s tournament came to a close late Wednesday (9) evening.

Awards for the Best Player of the tournament, Best Player of the Match and the Best Goal Keeper were also presented by the day’s Chief Guest, Commander of the Army at the same occasion.

Meanwhile, Runners-up in the Inter-Regiment Football Championship, also received their certificates from the Director General Army Sports, Major General Rohana Bandara.

Adding a new feature, Major General Dammika Kariyawasam (Retd), who was a former Chairman of the Army Football Committee was also honoured by the Commander of the Army, awarding a special service appraisal plaque before the winners in the match were awarded.