Zahira PPA holds celebrity football match
A celebrity football match organised by the Past Prefects’ Association was held on 8 October at Zahira Ground with the participation of All Stars and Cricket Stars and All Stars saw the ‘star’ of them all Mahela Jayawardena showing versatility in the football field by playing a crucial role taking the Cricket Stars to victory 6-1 at Zahira College.
This star war battle was played as a charity match in order to raise fund for the Zahira PPA’s education aid.
The Cricket Stars led by Sri Lanka bowling coach Champaka Ramanayaka who had a great start from the first whistle, a great pass from Mahela Jayawardene to Upul Chandana came the first goal. Great understanding between Mahela and his former team mate Upul saw the completion of the first goal.
Also the legendary Chaminda Vaas playing as left wing produced some great curves in to the box, this time the swing was from the foot showing great talent and agility. Former fast bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake controlled the game sweetly from the middle.
Chandana made the second goal from another Mahela’s pass. Shehan Daniel scored the third with a stunner. It was 3-0 lead at the lemons for the cricketers. Graham Labrooy, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Lanka De Silva, Asho Peiris, Shane Fenando, Jerome Jayantha, Jeewantha Kulathunga, and many other former cricketers were among the Cricket stars team.
Second half it was all Mahela’s as he scored his hat-trick of goals sending the crowd into a screaming frenzy to see their legend excel in a different form of sport at the home of one of the greatest football playing schools in the country. After missing two early chances in the first half he made it count in the second half.
All Stars led by Fouzul Hameed did not have much ball possession despite the early goal in the second half by Hassimdeen Tito. Former rugby players, business personalities and media personalities were among the All Star team. Hisham Abdeen who was a well-known rugby player and also played in the National Football Team during 1986 was playing along with, Nizam Jamaldeen, Shamly Nawaz, Mushtaq Jiffrey, Ishan Noor and Devinda Prasad.
Subhani Hashimdeen was the oldest player on the field who was the former Sri Lanka Football Captain. Naina Mohamed, Mohamed Roomy, Zia Ul-Haq, Roshan Watawala and the Derana dream star singer Shan Hashim, fashion visionary Ajai Vir Singh, Sri Lanka National Football Coach Nikola Kavazovi, famous racer Sajaad Zuhair were also among the All Star list.
A huge crowd was gathered to witness the match. Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis and Farveez Mahroof also witnessed their team mates’ skills. The match was organised to support and promote the Educational Projects of PPA in aligned with the ‘10th Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s’ which will be held on Saturday, 18 October at Zahira Ground.
