Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President, Jaswar Umar has shared the organization’s ambitious plans to strengthen the local football ecosystem, stating that the FFSL is set to launch a robust lineup of domestic football competitions and initiatives for 2025.
Following a remarkable year of achievements on the international stage in 2024, Umar outlined the following plans for 2025.
-A Year of Growth and Progress
“The most challenging aspect of football administration is achieving success with the national team. We’ve accomplished this through carefully crafted strategies,” said Jaswar Umar. “In 2024, we made our country proud by improving our FIFA world ranking from 205 to 200 in just one year. Looking ahead to 2025, with eight international matches on the horizon, we are confident of achieving even greater milestones.”
-Focus on Domestic and Youth Development
FFSL is now shifting its focus toward bolstering domestic and youth football. “All domestic competitions will commence in 2025, with increased funding and support for regional leagues. This will elevate football’s appeal and engagement across all levels,” Umar added.
-Club Competitions to Kick Off
FFSL recently convened with clubs from the Super League and Champions League to discuss their readiness for the upcoming season.
- All 14 Champions League clubs expressed their readiness to start the tournament by the end of January 2025.
- Super League clubs have requested additional time to prepare, proposing a start in March 2025.
-Youth and Grassroots Initiatives
A new youth competition, the Y19 League, will be launched across all 55 regional leagues, with a commercial partner already expressing interest in supporting the initiative.
In addition to the Y19 League, FFSL has outlined several other activities for 2025, including:
- Youth Leagues
- School Competitions
- Women’s Football Competitions
- A New Women’s League
- Coaching Development Programs
- Refereeing Training Programs
With the international momentum gained in 2024, FFSL anticipates 2025 to be a transformative year for Sri Lanka Football.
FFSL President, Jaswar Umar said several international events are also expected to further elevate the country’s football profile. (Newswire)