Pelicans swoop down to grab its kill

The high flying Pelicans SC players coached by Anura Sampath and comprising Sanjaya Thirimanna (captain), Farook Fowsan, Vigneshwararaja Kajanadan, Mohamed Husni, Mensah Stephen, Kojo Anokye, Dilanga Prabhath, Kavindu Ishan, Earnest Addo, Kamal Anjana, Danil Musatkin, Aalam Akram, Arumugam Sugeevan, Lahiru Sampath, Selvam Sutharshan, Yasasvin Thirimanna, Selvanayagam Saduryan, Mohammed Irfan, Kumara Kevinash, Sanjaya Fernando, Nawanidan Niranjan, Thimira Karunaratne (GK) and Mohomed Rimash after becoming undisputed football champions in the island

By Susil Premalal

True to their image Pelicans Sports Club of Kurunegala ended as the undefeated champions of the FFSL Champions League Super Eight Round with a colourful and spectacular performance in the 2025-26 inter-club football season.

Pelicans, a rising force beyond the capital of Colombo, recorded five wins and two draws in their seven matches, collecting 17 points. Right behind them was Java Lane Sports Club, Colombo, securing the runner-up position with 13 points that included three wins and four draws.

The Champions were awarded a cash prize of two million rupees by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) in recognition of their achievement. 

In the last match of the Super Eight Round on Sunday, Pelicans defeated New Star SC Colombo 1–0 to finish the tournament undefeated. 

Throughout the round, Pelicans SC also recorded victories over Saunders SC Colombo (1–0), St. Mary’s SC Jaffna (2–0), Solid SC Anuradhapura (1–0), Police SC (2–1), Super Star SC Colombo (1–0). They were held to draws by Serendib SC Mawanella (1–1) and Java Lane SC Colombo (1–1).

The Super Eight Round, organised by the FFSL, featured the country’s top eight clubs, Saunders SC Colombo, Pelicans SC Kurunegala, St. Mary’s SC Jaffna, Solid SC Anuradhapura, Serendib SC Mawanella, New Star SC Colombo, Java Lane SC Colombo and Police SC. All matches were played at the Race Course ground in Colombo.