Gateway to Glory

The incomparable champion Gateway College football players: Back row from left: Ayesh Alwis (coach), James Heath (head coach), Mahir Imran, Aidan Perera, Rathish Yazaki, Nikaash Govindan, Umar Shakil, Nadal Senapala, Sabith Iqbal, Thaj Riza (Vice Captain), Nasir Zuhry, Nusraan Nazeer, Hamood Rizwan, Imadh Shareeq, Dion Dias (coach), Dinuka Dhananjaya (senior coordinator), Priyanga Peiris (coach). Front row from left: Humaidh Irshad, Zaid Isthiquar, Krethik Lalithakumar, Rehan Jayesingha, Zaki Ashraff (Captain), Dulina Wickramasinghe, Hunan Haleem, Ayoob Faham, Hamdhan Irshad, Raziel Ameen, Ihsaan Faleel

Football at this International School continues to grow with more trophies and laurels guided by a professional management that has exposed and put to shame many a failed national sports body 

Gateway College Colombo, despite missing three key players who were away on national duty, retained the crown as U20 International Schools’ football champions with another dominant performance in this year’s tournament. 

Gateway made a strong start to the competition, defeating Royal Institute 5–0 and the British School in Colombo 8–0 in the group stages. 

They continued their relentless momentum with a commanding 13–0 win over CIS Colombo in the quarter-finals before holding their nerve to win on penalties against a determined Lyceum Wattala in the semi-finals. 

In the final, played in challenging weather conditions, Gateway faced Elizabeth Moir in a repeat of the final two years ago and once again proved far superior, securing an emphatic 6–0 victory to claim the title for the ninth time in the last ten years.

Across the tournament, Gateway scored an extraordinary 32 goals in just five matches. Striker Aidan Perera led the charge with 10 goals, while midfielders Zaki Ashraff (5), Hunan Haleem (4), Humaidh Irshad (3) and Rehan Jayesinghe (3) ensured the attack remained unstoppable. 

Equally impressive was Gateway’s defensive stability. Marshalled by Vice Captain Thaj Riza, the back line remained resolute throughout, not conceding a single goal. Gateway College now boasts a remarkable defensive record of conceding only one goal in the U-20 International Schools’ football tournament over the past three years.

Gateway’s individual brilliance was also recognised with a clean sweep of the major awards. Captain and midfielder Zaki Ashraff was named Player of the Tournament for his leadership and exceptional performances. 

National U-17 and U-19 goalkeeper Nadal Senapala deservedly received the Best Goalkeeper award while U-17 Sri Lanka midfielder Humaidh Irshad was declared Player of the Final for his outstanding display.

With seven consecutive U-20 championships, Gateway College Colombo continues to reinforce its reputation as the leading International Schools’ football team in the country. 

The school is also making waves in national schools’ football, having recently been crowned U-16 Colombo District joint champions. In addition, Gateway secured third place in the U-20 All Island Division One Tournament, cementing their position among the top three footballing schools in Sri Lanka.

In the all-island competition, Gateway announced their intentions from the outset by stunning tournament favourites St. Joseph’s College with a brilliant 3–1 win at the City League Sports Complex. 

A brace from striker Rehan Jayesinghe and another goal from Zaki Ashraff set the tone for what was to come. The team then battled to a gritty 1–1 draw against St. Benedict’s College at the University of Colombo ground, with Ashraff finding the net once more. 

Gateway continued to impress with a long journey to Jaffna where they earned an admirable 2–2 draw against a spirited St. Patrick’s College, thanks to goals from Aidan Perera and the ever-reliable Ashraff. 

Finishing the group stage undefeated, Gateway— the only international school competing in the Division One inter school segment— firmly established themselves as major contenders.

In the quarter-finals, Gateway edged out Kalutara Muslim Central College 1–0 with another decisive effort from Aidan Perera, while goalkeeper Nadal Senapala was named Most Valuable Player for his heroic display. 
Although Gateway fell short in the semi-finals against tournament favourites Zahira College, they bounced back in spectacular fashion in the third-place playoff. 

Delivering their most complete performance of the tournament, Gateway defeated Royal College 3–0 at the Sugathadasa Stadium with Sri Lanka youth player Umar Shakil scoring two goals to secure the MVP award while Ashraff capped off his sensational tournament with another goal for his team.

After years of sustained investment in player development and coaching excellence, Gateway now stands proudly among the top footballing schools in 
Sri Lanka. 

They are also one of only a select few institutions competing in Division One football across all senior age groups — Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 — reinforcing their reputation as an emerging powerhouse in Sri Lankan schools’ football.