Colombo Athletic Football Academy has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first football academy from Sri Lanka to receive an invitation to participate in the Iber Cup, an annual tournament held in Portugal that is highly regarded as one of the premier youth football events worldwide.
This invitation marks a significant achievement for Sri Lankan football, positioning Colombo Athletic among an elite selection of academies from around the globe that compete in this prestigious tournament each year.
The Iber Cup has been instrumental in promoting numerous successful football careers, with notable alumni including Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias, AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, as well as players from Paris Saint-Germain such as Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, and João Neves, who now compete at the highest levels of the sport.
What makes this accomplishment even more impressive is that Colombo Athletic’s academy is only fifteen months old. In this short time, the club has gained international recognition, earning an invitation from tournament organizers who select only the top youth academies from around the world.
The swift success of Colombo Athletic can be attributed to its partnership with the AC Milan Academy Junior Camp. The club has integrated the well-known AC Milan development approach, implementing world-class training systems and footballing philosophies that have significantly shaped the skills and discipline of its young players. This dedication to the AC Milan methodology is recognized as a key factor in securing the highly sought-after invitation to the Iber Cup. The team trains at Thurstan Grounds, which serves as their home base.
“We are incredibly thrilled to have reached this significant milestone in just 15 months since our inception. Being invited to one of the most esteemed youth tournaments is a tremendous opportunity for us. Regardless of the outcome, we are grateful for this chance, as it will greatly benefit our Sri Lankan players. We are proud to be the first academy in Sri Lanka to collaborate with AC Milan, allowing us to implement the successful ‘Milan Method.’ Our training on this system has already begun to yield positive results,” said Ajai Vir Singh, President of Colombo Athletic Football Club and AC Milan Junior Academy Camp Sri Lanka.
The club’s involvement in the Iber Cup not only signifies a remarkable achievement for Colombo Athletic but also represents a pivotal moment for the development of youth football in Sri Lanka, indicating that the country is prepared to compete with the best in the world.
Additionally, Colombo Athletic provides annual scholarships to talented players from underprivileged backgrounds across the island, further demonstrating its commitment to fostering football talent.
The academy is supported by sponsors including Prima Kothumi, Mastercard, Cinnamon Grand, Sorrell, and Health Scan, along with the patronage of three key individuals.
Photo caption: The team for IBER Cup – Akein Ekanayake (captain), Adnaan Ali, Shatein Saheed, Aamish Wasim, Nathan Samuel, Arian Singh, Senal Arsecularatne, Yasiru Dissanayake, Nicolas Stefan, Myron Fernando, Thashwin Sudharshanan, Amaan Morris, Deigo Mudiyanselage, Umar Mashood, Ethan Fonseca, Aaron Fernando.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
