A comprehensive hand-book on Football in Sinhala

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

Sampath Bandara's research work titled "Football-the most popular game in universe" will certainly fulfill the long-felt need for a comprehensive read in Sinhala on football, a game to which Sinhala readers have very little access.

Each and every page of the book amply manifests Bandara's attempt at digging into the minutest details of the game, which fascinates thousands of football fans around the globe, albeit it is not the most popular game in the Sri Lankan sporting arena.

At present, over 250 millions worldwide engage in football, and 40 million are women. Football is played in 270 countries which are members of the FIFA (The Federation Internationale de Football Association).

The book covers all aspects of the game, including the origin and the development of football as a popular sport around the world, in addition to offering a comprehensive guide to major football clubs in Sri Lanka and achievements of Sri Lankan football players at international competitions.

According to Bandara, football was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British in the period 1879 -1907. Playgrounds at Galle Face Green, Service Barrack Ground and at the Hotel Taj Samudra were popular venues where football was played.

At the initial stage, the game was propagated in Sri Lanka by various regiments of the British Army stationed in Colombo. Football matches were played between the regiments and the civil groups, and attracted 5000-6000 football fans.

The Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Artillery and Royal Garrison Command, the regiments of the British Royal Army, played football and contributed to the propagation of the game in the Western Province, while the planters and Administrative officials popularized the game in Southern and Central hills. Sampath Bandara is the Associate Sports Editor of the "Dinamina" and over the years he has gathered on wealth of experience in the field of sports writing in Sinhala.