The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has announced that holding a recognized coaching license will become mandatory for all coaches operating across schools, academies, and local clubs starting in January. Speaking at a certification ceremony held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), FFSL President Jaswar Umar emphasized that the governing body will strictly withhold recognition from unlicensed coaches and refuse to sanction associated matches by early 2027.
Key Highlights
- Official FFSL coaching licenses become compulsory across all levels from January.
- Matches linked to unlicensed coaches will not be recognized by early 2027.
- 193 coaches received D Licenses at a BMICH ceremony graced by Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thillakaratne.
- FFSL targets expanding the pool of licensed coaches to 3,000 by 2028.
- Head of Coach Education and former national skipper Sampath Perera announced he will step down in December.
Addressing the gathering, Umar highlighted the urgent need for structured coaching standards to support Sri Lanka’s expansive football ecosystem, which comprises around 4,500 teams competing in events such as the Super League, Champions League, and FA Cup. With only 2,500 licensed coaches currently in the country, the FFSL is widening access to coaching clinics to establish clear developmental pathways for prospective players, particularly those from rural areas aspiring for national selection.
The BMICH event saw 193 coaches from batches 39 through 57 receive their D Licenses. Head of the Coach Education Department Sampath Perera—who captained Sri Lanka to its historic 1995 SAFF Championship victory—commended the FFSL leadership for prioritizing coach education as a pillar of long-term development. Perera revealed that the department has successfully conducted 57 D License courses, producing 1,710 qualified coaches to date. Announcing the target of reaching 3,000 licensed coaches by 2028, Perera also declared his intention to step down from his post in December to make way for new leadership.