Infant Colombo football academy gets Portugal call-up

The Colombo Academy squad featuring Akein Ekanayake, Adnaan Ali, Shatein Saheed, Aamish Wasim, Nathan Samuel, Arian Singh, Senal Arsecularatne, Yasiru Dissanayake, Nicolas Stefan, Myron Fernando, Thashwin Sudharshanan, Amaan Morris, Diego Mudiyanselage, Umar Mashood, Ethan Fonseca and Aaron Fernando

By Susil Premalal

Colombo Athletic Football Academy (CAFA) has become the first Sri Lankan team to be invited for the internationally renowned Iber Cup, marking a historic milestone for youth football in Sri Lanka.

The tournament will be held from June 29 to July 5, with the CAFA team scheduled to depart for Portugal on June 27.

The Colombo-based academy, founded just 15 months ago, will compete alongside some of the world’s leading youth teams in a tournament widely regarded as one of the most prestigious platforms for emerging football talent.

Officials of Colombo Athletic Football Club said the invitation reflects the academy’s rapid progress and growing international recognition. The club attributes much of its development to its partnership with the AC Milan Academy Junior Camp, through which it has adopted structured training methods and the renowned “Milan Method” of player development.

Academy president Ajai Vir Singh described the selection as a breakthrough moment for Sri Lankan football and a valuable opportunity for young players to gain international exposure.

Colombo Athletic, which trains at Thurstan Ground in Colombo, also operates scholarship programmes for talented underprivileged players from across the country.

The academy’s participation in the Iber Cup is being viewed as a significant step forward for Sri Lanka’s presence in global youth football and a sign of the country’s growing potential on the international stage.