by Farook Lantra Text and Photos
A hat-trick by cricket legend Mahela Jayawardena and Upul Chandana (two goals) helped the Cricket Stars to gain a 6-0 win over All Stars in an exhibition football game to mark the Celebrity Football match organised by the Zahira Past Pupils Association at the Zahira grounds.
Supporting Mahela and Upul Chandana were Chaminda Vass, Pushpakumara Champaka Ramanayaka.
 The invitees and spectators who witnessed this game could not believe that the national cricketers (Cricket Stars) had such an excellent knowledge of football and played like veterans whilst confronting the

“All Star” football team led by former star Faouzul Hameed who had the  experienced National Soccer Legend M. Musthaq, Nizam Jamadeen, Hisham Abdeen, Shamly Nawaz, Naina Mohomed and a host of others.
The only goal for All Stars was booted in by Tito Hashimdeen.
This team also included popular personalities in various sectors, businessmen, artists, media personnel etc.
To mark the 10th year of Zahira Super 16 Soccer Sevens the inter-class football tournament and the “Celebrity Football Match” was powered by LI-NING.
Hashim  Omar (Director Pyramid Wilmer Pvt Ltd), Rohitha Abeykoon (Business Head Li-Ming the Sponsor), Mrs.Piukika Ranasinghe (Director/CEO Cool and Cool Asia Ltd), and Trizvil Marikkar (Zahira College Pricipal), Nimnaz Rameez PPA) and Rinaz Rafaideen (Project Chairman) graced the occasion