By Susil Premalal

Major league football resumes in Sri Lanka after a hiatus of six months when the Vantage FFSL President’s Cup 2020 begins Sunday with four matches being played in two venues in Colombo. This is the first time a major football competition is being held after the coronavirus outbreak.

The tournament will run until August 31 with the participation of 20 leading clubs in the country.

Blue Star SC, Kalutara will take on Moragasmulla SC at Sugathadasa Stadium while Up Country Lions SC will meet Java Lane SC at Racecourse Stadium in the opening matches. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Renown SC will face New Star SC at Sugathadasa Stadium and Matara City Club will take on New Youngs FC at Racecourse Stadium under lights in matches scheduled to commence at 6:30 p.m.

The organisers allocated a budget of Rs. 30 million for this invitational tournament with the champions slated to receive Rs. 300,000, according to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). The FFSL has organised this tournament with the aim of scouting for new talent to feed the national team.

The tournament will be played within closed doors and strict health regulations because of the coronavirus.

The 20 teams were divided into five groups with each team guaranteed at least three matches during the preliminary rounds.

Selected matches would be streamed live through FFSL’s official YouTube channel ‘Sri Lanka Football TV’ for local fans set to enjoy a football bonanza of 30 matches before the knockout stages.

The quarter-finals are scheduled to be worked off on August 23 and 24, the semifinals will be played on August on 27 and the final on August 31.

Fixtures:

August 9 – 3:30 p.m. (Group A)

Blue Star SC vs. Moragasmulla SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Up Country Lions SC vs. Java Lane SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 9 – 6:30 p.m. (Group B)

Renown SC vs New Star SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Matara City Club vs New Youngs FC at Racecourse Stadium

August 10 – 3:30 p.m. (Group C)

Defenders FC vs. Super Sun SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Red Star FC vs. Saunders SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 10 – 6:30 p.m. (Group D)

Sea Hawks FC vs. Serendib SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Ratnam SC vs. SL Police SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 11 - (Group E)

3:30 p.m. - Colombo FC vs. SLTB SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

6:30 p.m. - Blue Eagles SC vs. Crystal Palace FC at Sugathadasa Stadium

August 13 – 6:30 p.m.(Group A)

Moragasmulla SC vs. Up Country Lions SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Java Lane SC vs. Blue Star SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 13 – 3:30 p.m. (Group B)

New Star SC vs. Matara City Club at Sugathadasa Stadium

New Youngs FC vs. Renown SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 14 – 6:30 p.m. (Group C)

Super Sun SC vs. Red Stars FC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Saunders SC vs. Defenders FC at Racecourse Stadium

August 14 – 3:30 p.m. (Group D)

Serendib SC vs. Ratnam SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

SL Police SC vs. Sea Hawks FC at Racecourse Stadium

August 15 – 3:30 p.m. (Group E)

SLTB SC vs. Blue Eagles SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Crystal Palace FC vs. Colombo FC at Sugathadasa Stadium

August 17 – 3:30 p.m. (Group A)

Blue Star SC vs. Up Country Lions SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Java Lane SC vs. Moragasmulla SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 17 – 6:30 p.m. (Group B)

Renown SC vs. Matara City Club at Racecourse Stadium

New Youngs FC vs. New Star SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

August 18 – 3:30 p.m. (Group C)

Defenders FC vs. Red Stars FC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Saunders SC vs. Super Sun SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 18 – 6:30 p.m. (Group D)

Sea Hawks FC vs. Ratnam SC at Racecourse Stadium

SL Police SC vs. Serendib SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

August 19 – 3:30 p.m. (Group E)

Colombo FC vs. Blue Eagles SC at Sugathadasa Stadium

Crystal Palace FC vs. SLTB SC at Racecourse Stadium

August 23 and 24 - Quarter Finals

August 27 - Semi Finals

August 31 – Final