Wednesday, 6 October
* Legendary Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya took time to give a motivational speech for Sri Lankan footballers today before their key match against India tomorrow
* Sri Lanka held their last practice session prior to the India clash, at Henviru Stadium, Male
* Sri Lankan Skipper Sujan Perera and Head Coach Amir Alagic addressed the media at a pre-match press conference
Thursday, 7 October
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Yogendra Duckson Puslas, the Player of the Match against India yesterday (7) in Male[/caption]
* Today is the National Day of the Republic of Maldives
* According to the Islamic calendar, the first day of Rabi’ al-awwaw is Maldives National Day. It commemorates the victory of Muhamadhu Thakurufaanu al-A’uẓam over Portuguese in 1573
* Sri Lanka played today India in the fifth match of the 11-match Championship, including the final which is set for Saturday, 16 October
* They drew with India 0-0
* Sri Lanka are to meet the hosts on Sunday (10) in their last league match
* Some Sri Lankan fans were seen in the spectator enclosures supporting ‘the Golden Army’
* Since it was a holiday due to the National Day here, a lot of Maldivians were seen outside the ground entrance awaiting the Maldives vs. Bangladesh match, which was scheduled to start at 8.30 p.m. local time (9 p.m. SL time)
* Roads in Male had been decorated today and they seemed to be expecting a victory against Bangladesh tonight to intensify their celebrations on this special day
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Another chance gone begging: Neither Sri Lanka nor India was able to capitalise on the chances and score as their SAFF Championship game ended in a 0-0 stalemate yesterday (7)[/caption]
After 18 years in the history of South Asian football, the Sri Lankan footballers, aka the Golden Army, ended a match against India unbeaten yesterday (7).
Sri Lanka held India to a 0-0 draw in their third fixture of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2021, worked off at the National Stadium here at Male, Maldives.
Both teams were equally matched and the game swung from one end to the other. The only real chance for India to score in the match came when Liston Colaco, the Indian winger, found their striker who failed to convert the opportunity.
Chances went begging at both ends and the game was slowed down and looked dull with neither team being able to produce any goal-scoring opportunity as both teams played stalemate.
With this draw, India shared another point to their tally yet their chances to have a berth in the final of the five-nation SAFF Championship were still in the balance.
I’m really proud of my boys - SL Head Coach Amir Alagic
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Amir Alagić, 60, is a Bosnian-Australian professional football manager who is currently the Manager and the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka national football team[/caption]
Sri Lanka national football team Head Coach Amir Alagic is satisfied on Sri Lanka’s performance against Nepal in the fourth match of the SAFF Championship, worked off on Monday (4) in the National Football Stadium in Maldives.
Even though Sri Lanka went down fighting, there were a lot of positives for the Lankans to take from the match on Monday.
Especially Marvin Hamilton’s and Dillon de Silva’s contribution with each goal in the second half and the way the Golden Army played in the dying moments were outstanding.
They could have pulled one back but luck just did not favour them.
“Boys delivered for us world-class football. This is the new phase of Sri Lanka football. We came here to learn to progress to see where we are at South Asia, explained Alagic.
“I have no words to admire my players. We are honestly so proud even though we lost. For us this is a victory,” stressed Amir Alagic at the post-match media conference.