Sri Lanka Champions League
Founded | 1985 |
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Country | Sri Lanka |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 18 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | S2 League |
Domestic cup(s) | Sri Lanka FA Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Cup SAFF Club Championship |
Most championships | Saunders SC (12 titles) |
TV partners | Football Sri Lanka TV |
Website | https://football.lk/ |
Current: |
The S1 League (Sinhala: එස්1 ලීගය; Tamil: எஸ்1 லீக்), or simply S1, is the top division of the Sri Lankan professional football league system. It is currently sponsored by Dialog Axiata and thus officially known as the Dialog S1 League.
The league was conducted in various formats. Apart from the league system, a playoff stage was included in 2013–14 season. Currently, 18 clubs are participating in the tournament. Saunders have won the most titles in the league, winning 12 titles. Rathnam have won the title 5 times, Renown 4 times, and Colombo 3 times. In recent times, different clubs have been able to win the championship title.
History[]
The competition was started in 1985 and it was held every year. The 2016 Sri Lanka Football Premier League is the 32nd season of the Sri Lanka Football league. The tournament was conducted in various formats. Apart from the league system a playoff stage was included in the 2013–14 season. Currently 18 clubs participate in the tournament. Saunders are the most time champion with 12 titles. Rathnam have won the title five times and Renown four times. In recent times different clubs have been able to win the championship title. Colombo have won the title three times and are the current champions.
Competition format[]
In the current structure of the league 18 clubs compete for the title. In the first stage the teams are divided into two groups of nine. Those teams compete in a round robin format. The best four teams from each group qualify for the Championship Stage. In that stage the 8 teams compete in a round robin format and the group winner is the champion of the season. The bottom two teams of each group in the first stage are relegated to the Division I.
Qualification for international competitions[]
The champion of the league will earn the chance to play in the AFC Cup tournament which is organized by Asian Football Confederation. Also they qualify for the SAFF Club Championship. However the title holders didn't compete in any of the above competitions until 2014. The first team to play in the AFC Cup was Colombo FC, which won the title in 2015.
Previous winners[]
Champions so far:[1]
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Most championships[]
The number of national championships that clubs in Sri Lanka have attained.
Club |
Number of Championships |
---|---|
Saunders SC | 12 |
Ratnam SC | 5 |
Renown SC | 4 |
Colombo FC | 3 |
Negambo Youth | 2 |
Defenders (previously Army SC) | 2 |
1 | |
1 | |
Blue Star SC | 1 |
Don Bosco SC | 1 |
Air Force SC | 1 |
Solid SC | 1 |
Sponsorship[]
The title sponsor of the current season in Dialog. So the league is known as Dialog Champions League. Other than dialog Cargills also sponsor the previous events. The official ball is supplied by Molten. The official broadcast partner is The papare.com.
Stadiums[]
Most of the clubs in this league haven't any FIFA Standard Stadiums. So most of the matches are played in Sugathadasa Stadium and Kelaniya Football Complex. Some clubs play their matches in their home stadiums which are located in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kelaniya and Kalutara.
Topscorers[]
Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals |
2003–04 | Blue Star SC | 19 | |
2006–07 | Kasun Jayasuriya | Ratnam SC | 24 |
2007–08 | Kasun Jayasuriya | Ratnam SC | 12 |
2008–09 | Kasun Jayasuriya | Renown SC | 13 |
2009–10 | Renown SC | 14 | |
2014–15 | Mohamed Izzadeen | Army SC | 26 |
2015 | M.C.M. Rifnaz[2] | Renown SC | 9 |
2016–17 | Renown SC | 11 | |
2017–18 | Renown SC | 19 |
References[]
- ^ "Sri Lanka – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Colombo FC wins Dialog Champions League". 6 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
External links[]
- Sri Lanka Football Premier League
- Football leagues in Sri Lanka
- Top level football leagues in Asia
- Sports leagues established in 1985
- 1985 establishments in Sri Lanka