FFSL Champions Cup 2025–26 Saunders and St. Mary’s set for final showdown today

St. Mary’s Squad: M. Nitharsan (Captain), I. Mithunsan, Joha Loyas, J. Jerinsan, M. Maryasan, Danjuma Gumbari, OKE Metobor, Mathivathanan, S. Aarnikan, S. Rubanraj, Joha Lawani.

By Susil Premalal

Two of Sri Lanka’s historic football clubs, Saunders SC Colombo and St. Mary’s SC Jaffna, will clash in the final of the FFSL Champions Cup 2025–26 knockout tournament today (April 4) at 6.00 p.m. at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo.

The winner of the tournament will be awarded a cash prize of one million rupees.

The final is expected to be a closely contested encounter, with Saunders—one of the oldest football clubs in Sri Lanka—taking on St. Mary’s, a prominent club from the Northern region.

Notably, this marks the first time that St. Mary’s SC Jaffna has reached the final of a national-level football tournament since entering the inter-club football arena.

The Champions Cup, organized by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), featured eight top teams including Saunders SC, Java Lane SC, St. Mary’s SC, New Star SC, Super Sun SC, Serandib SC, Solid SC and Police SC.

In the semi-finals, St. Mary’s defeated Java Lane SC 5–4 on penalties, while Saunders overcame Serandib SC Mawanella 4–2 to secure their places in the final.

Earlier in the quarter-finals, Java Lane beat Super Sun SC 2–2 (16–15 on penalties), St. Mary’s defeated New Star SC 2–1, Saunders recorded a 5–1 win over Solid SC, and Serandib edged Police SC 2–1.

Saunders Squad: Indeewa Udara (Captain), SKSM Priyadharshana, AMM Naleem, Ziard Mufazzal, Pathum Gimhan, Sameera Perera, Abdul Aziz, Mohamed Fawsan, Clauvice Franck, Roger Philippe, Yansan Alassane.