Colombo FC

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. In the Dialog Champions League 2018 edition, Colombo FC emerged as the Runner-up after defeating Navy Sea Hawks SC 4-0 on 13th February 2019 at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo. Colombo FC qualified for the 2019 AFC Cup after winning the Premier Championship on 2018. They played their Preliminary Stage match of the 2019 AFC Cup against Transport United FC from Bhutan, in which they ended up winning the First Leg of the tie which played at the Race Course International Stadium, Colombo with a 7-1 scoreline. In the Second Leg they emerged victorious after beating Transport United 1-2 in Changlimithang Stadium, Thimpu. After winning the Preliminary Stage with a 9-2 aggregate they will face Chennaiyin FC, Champions of ISL 2018 on 06th March 2019 at the Race Course International Stadium, Colombo as their Playoff Stage opponents.

Colombo FC
Nickname(s)Colombo Lions
Short nameCFC
FoundedApril 2008 (2008-04)
GroundCity Football League (most games) Sugathadasa Stadium Race Course Stadium(sometimes)
Capacity2,500 and 25,000
Founder/PresidentSaif Yusoof
Head CoachRoomy Hassan
LeaguePremier Liga
2018/192nd
WebsiteClub website
Away colours

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 qualified for 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.

Colombo FC emerged as winners in the 2018 edition by defeating Saunders SC 2-0 in the final.

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

In the recent years, many young and promising talents have emerged from the programs, including Kilmen Peterthevaraj and Dawid Szurlej, who retired at age of 20 due to knee injury.

Despite this, all Youth Programs at Colombo have ceased to operate due to ongoing pedophile allegations, this as of January 2020.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018- Nivia

Current squad

First-team squad
As of 20 February 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 GK Mohamed Imran
2 MF Jean Furic Seka
3 DF Eranga Perera
4 DF Chalana Chameera
7 FW Dilan de Silva
9 DF Niran Hewavitharanage
10 FW Zohar Mohamed Zarwan
11 FW Ahamed Abdul Rahman
13 DF Mohamed Siraj Jain
14 MF Mohamed Rawme Mohideen
No. Position Player
15 MF Isaac Addevu
16 FW Mohamed Aakib
19 DF Afeel Mohamed
20 FW Tagne Bodric
23 FW Sathar Shafran
24 DF Charitha Rathnayake
25 GK Kavish Fernando
27 DF Asikumar Rahuman
28 DF Duckson Puslas
30 FW Mohammadu Fasal

Team management
Position Name
Head Coach Wojciech Halas
Assistant Coach Patryk Biegunka
Physio Julie

Club officials
  • Founder & President & Team Manager – Saif Yusoof
  • Media Officer– Aabid Akram
  • Technical Director - M. Premadasa
  • Equipment Manager - M. Iqbal
  • Video Analyst - Pulina Sulara
  • Interpreter - Piyal Perera
  • Security Officer - Andy Sambo

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*) - Asanka Nayanananda
  • Trainer - Hettiarachchige
Team Manager

* Saif Yusoof (2017–present*)

M. Iqbal (2008-2017)

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
  • 2017–18 Sri Lanka Football Premier League
    • 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
  • Sri Lanka FA Cup
    • Winners (1): 2014
    • Semi finalist (2) : 2015 2016
  • City League President's Trophy
    • Winners (2): 2016, 2017
  • Silver Cup
    • Winners (1): 2010

Domestic Doubles
  • 2017–18 Sri Lanka Football Premier League: Dialog Champions League and City League President's Cup | 2017

International
Preliminary round
Team 1 Agg Team 2 1st Leg 2nd Leg
Colombo 9-2 Transport United 7-1 2-1
Play-off round
Team 2 Agg Team 2 1st Leg 2nd Leg
Colombo South Asia Chennaiyin 0-0 0-1

References
  1. "Cargills boost FA Cup Soccer Championship » The Nation". nation.lk. April 30, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
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