Colombo FC

Colombo FC
Full name Colombo Football Club
Nickname(s) "Yellow Submarine"
Short name CFC
Founded April 2008 (2008-04)
Ground City Football League (most games) Sugathadasa Stadium Race Course Stadium(sometimes)
Capacity 2,500 and 25,000
Founder/President Saif Yusoof
Head Coach Roomy Hassan
League Sri Lanka Premier League
2017/18 Champions of DCL 17
Website Club website
Alternative kit colours

Colombo Football Club, or Colombo FC, is a professional football club based in Colombo, playing in the Premier Division, the top flight of Sri Lankan football. They are 3-time winners of the prestigious Dialog Champions League & also have won the 2015 FA Cup championship,[1] defeating Blue Star SC 1–0 in the final on July 4 at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Colombo FC completed their Hat-trick of clinching the Dialog Champions League for the 2017/18 Sri Lanka Premier League, after defeating Renown SC 1–0 on 14 January 2018 at Race Course.The club's motto is "Pride of Colombo City" which was announced by the club founder & owner Saif Yusoof in 2017.

History

Founded in April 2008, Colombo FC was created to support the growth of local talent from Colombo's City Football League and the Colombo Football League. The club was able to enter the 3rd Division of the Sri Lanka Football Federation during the 2009/10 season. They became Division 3 runners-up in the 2010/11 season after losing to Matara SC 2–0 in the finals, held at Vernon Fernando Stadium, Kalutara.

Colombo FC won its first championship trophy on April 25, 2010, beating Java Lane SC 3–2 to win the Silver Cup. In Division 2 of the 2011/12 football season, Colombo FC lost in the semifinals to the eventual champions in a 5–4 penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 tie. That year, all four semifinalist teams, namely Super Sun, Civil Security. Solid FC and Colombo FC, were promoted to Division 1.

Dialog Champions League

In 2014/15, Colombo FC on their debut entry to the Dialog Champions League finished at the top of the League table, but a knock-out system was introduced taking the top 8 teams together in a knock out series. The quarter final set with Don Bosco SC saw them out of the race. They lost 3–2, where the played at Vernon Fernando Stadium, Kalutara.

In the 2015/16 season, Colombo FC won the Dialog Champions League Cup. With a closely contested Super 8 round this time on a league basis, they secured their debut championship on the last day, winning with a margin of 1 goal on goal difference. . Renown SC had equal points that year. Colombo FC went on to win 23 games, losing only once that season. They beat SL Army on the last day 2–0. Colombo FC player Bodrie Dimitri was crowned MVP of the season.

In the 2016/17 season, Colombo FC retained their Dialog League Champions title. This time with a close contest between SL Army and Renown SC. Colombo FC won on their last day where they played Renown SC and won the league by a one-point difference above SL Army.

Colombo FC completed their Hat-trick of the winning the Champions League title in their 3rd consecutive year by defeating arch rivals Renown SC 1–0 in a full house on 14 January 2018. Only being defeated to Super sun SC in the league, the boys on yellow apparently scored the highest no of goals in this season (in which managed to score 6+ in 4 games). Excellent performance from the entire team in which Kaveesh Lakpriya's saves, Mohamed Fazal's finishes & Mohamedu Nasir's transformation was notable memories.

Sri Lanka FA Cup

Colombo FC first entered the Holcim FA Cup in 2009, losing in round four.

In the 2010 Holcim FA Cup, Colombo FC became the first 3rd-Division team to have reached round 5 of the FA Cup, organized by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. They lost in the pre-quarterfinals (round 5) to Police SC, 4–0.

The team reached the semifinals in 2014, where they lost to Sri Lanka Army SC 2–1.

Colombo FC emerged as champions of the Cargils FA Cup in 2015, defeating Blue Star SC 1–0 on July 4, 2015 at Sugathadasa Stadium.

In the 2016 Cargils FA Cup, the team lost to Sri Lanka Army SC 1–0 in the semifinals.

In 2017, Colombo FC went on to play a FA Cup without foreign players as per tournament guidelines, having successfully qualified into the semi-finals, the team lost to Sri Lanka Army SC 3–2 marking the end to the 55th edition.

City League President's Trophy

Colombo FC previously were judged Joint-Champions with Renown SC in the 2016 edition,managed to win the 2017 edition of the President's Cup after defeating arch rivals Java Lane SC 4–2 on penalties in the finals. In Progress Colombo FC lost to the newly promoted Morgasmulla 2–0 in the first game, but managed to beat Saunders SC in the next fixture. Qualifying into the semi-finals, Colombo FC defeated Renown SC, While Java Lane SC defeated Moragasmulla.

2017 AFC Cup

After winning the 2015/16 season, Colombo FC qualified for the AFC Cup pre-qualifying round, and were paired against India's football giants Mohun Bagan AC. The qualifier consisted of two legs. The first leg was played January 31, 2017, at Colombo Racecourse, and was won by Mohun Bagan AC, 2–1. The second leg was played a week later in Kolkata where Mohun Bagan won at their home turf 2–1 as well to continue to their journey in the AFC Cup.

2018 AFC Cup

After winning the Dialog Champions League for second time in the 2016/2017 season, Colombo FC were due to make a second appearance for the upcoming AFC Cup 2018. Unfortunately due to confusion at Football Federation of Sri Lanka, no Sri Lankan club has fulfilled any AFC Club licensing, and they will not be eligible to play.

Youth programs

Colombo FC runs and sponsors free youth football programs in the city.

Colombo FC has a special program that runs weekly at Maligawatte Grounds for the youth in the area that has been running a number of years. Colombo FC had their debut game as a club in July 2008 against Maligawatte Youth where the lost 2–1. With the fall of many Colombo clubs, Colombo FC has been instrumental in the efforts of ensuring practice for colombo based youth teams.

The Colombo Football Academy runs summer programs for children of locals and expats alike and charge a training fee.

A full-time training schedule for private students ands institutions is set to begin in March 2018

Club officials

  • Founder & President – Saif Yusoof
  • Secretary – Aabid Akram

Coaching Staff

* Hassan Roomy (2010–present*)

  • Late Dickson Silva (2008)
  • Sisira De Silva (2009)
  • Subhani Hashimdeen (2010)

Assistant Coaches

  • Mahinda Galagedera – Goalkeeping coach (2009)
  • Lalith Weerasinghe – Goalkeeping coach (2013–2017)

Medical Staff

  • Physio (Current*)
Team Manager

* Iqbal Mohamed (2008–present*)

Stadium

Colombo FC plays most of their home games at City Football League Complex,Slave Island which has a capacity of 500–700 spectators. They play their FA Cup knockouts at Sugathadasa Stadium,Colombo (depending on availability) and Kelaniya Football Complex (Kelaniya). During AFC affiliated tournaments Colombo FC play at Race Course Complex, Colombo. In 2017 Sri Lankan Premier League Season, Colombo FC used Beddagana national training grounds & Shalika grounds,Narehenpita for their home fixtures.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

    • Winners (3): 2015–2016, 2016–2017, 2017–2018
  • Premier Division 1
    • Runners up (1): 2012–2013
  • Premier Division 3
    • Runners up (1): 2009–2010

Cups

  • Silver Cup
    • Winners (1): 2010

Domestic Doubles

References

  1. ↑ "Cargills boost FA Cup Soccer Championship » The Nation". nation.lk. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
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