The Sri Lanka Football Team consisting 22 players and eleven officials left for South Korea yesterday to participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 preliminary round-2 competition along with the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers Group ‘H’ matches from June 5 at the Goyang Stadium.
The Sri Lankan contingent, led by goal-keeper Sujan Perera will have to compete in only two matches against Lebanon on June 5 and South Korea on June 9 after North Korea withdrew from the tournament citing pandemic reasons.
“We are finally geared up for this all important tournament. As everyone is aware it has been a tough passage in the past 16 months due to various stoppages mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But we managed to do our best to prepare for it with the available resources,” Sri Lanka Coach Amir Alagic told the Daily News yesterday.
“We didn’t get the opportunity to play against any tough opponents. But the boys had an opportunity to play some games with the Super League pre-season followed by the first stage of the same tournament which is some consolation for us,” he stressed.
“Nevertheless, the boys are geared up and focussed to give their best for the Country,” concluded Alagic.
The squad: Sujan Perera (Captain), Prabath Arunasiri, R. P. Danushka, Harsha Fernando, Roshan Appuhamy, Chamod Dilshan, Charitha Rathnayake, Duckson Puslas, Chathuranga Madushan, Hamilton Omole, Chalana Chameera, Jude Supan, Mohamed Musthaq, Mohamad Fazal, Kavindu Ishan (Vice-Captain), Dillon de Silva, Waseem Razeek (Vice-Captain), Mohamed Aakib, Asikur Rahuman, Mohamed Hasmeer, Supun Dhananjaya and Rifkhan Mohamed.
Officials: Amir Alagic (Head Coach), Asif Ansar (Team Manager), Amir Doksanaltic (Assistant Coach and Coach Goal-keeper), Dr. M. R. F. Jayasuriya (Team Doctor), Maduwantha Bandara (Media Officer), Eesaa Radhee Ibrahim (Technical Officer), Ashan Gamlath (Fitness Coach), Sanka Vidanaarachchi (Performance Analyst), Abdul Barsith (Physiotherapist), Jeevana Caldera (Masseur) and Roshan Pradeep (Kitman).
(Daily news)
