Mendis - an experienced football administrator

FOOTBALL: A. G. Mendis was an outstanding soccerite, a very experienced soccer administrator and also a reputed referee.

Mendis, started his soccer career at Sri Dharmarama College, Ratmalana in 1960. He was tough defender and helped his school to win many soccer titles conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Soccer Association.

After leaving school, he played for several leading clubs in many open tournaments. He has represented Jaya Lanka SC, Ratmalana; Sunrise SC and Dehiwela/Mt.Lavinia Football League. He has helped the clubs to achieve success in tournaments conducted by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.

Mendis also followed a football course conducted by West German soccer instructor A. P. Pape. As a promising soccerite, he was selected to the National Football League in 1980.

He successfully completed the football referees seminar conducted by famous football referee T. Perimpanayagam who was also the President of the Referees Association of Sri Lanka. Mendis represented Bata Shoe Company in the tournaments conducted by the Mercantile Football Association and later he joined Tri-star Apparels Export Ltd., and was In-charge of the soccer team. Under his guidance Tri-star won many trophies. He also represented Dehiwela/Mt. Lavinia League too.

His services to develop the game was recognised by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and was selected to receive the FFSL Service Award in 2004.

During this period he served in the executive committee of Dehiwela/Mt. Lavinia FL, Seven-a-Side Football Association of Sri Lanka and Mercantile FA.

It should be mentioned that Mendis was appointed as match referee by the Mercantile Football Association for his knowledge in the game of football and for his discipline on and off the field.

A. G. Mendis could be contacted on Tel: 2732691 - Mobile: 0718864327.