Sri Lanka Champions League

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.

Sri Lanka Champions League
Founded1985 (1985)
CountrySri Lanka
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toS2 League
Domestic cup(s)Sri Lanka FA Cup
International cup(s)AFC Cup
SAFF Club Championship
Most championshipsSaunders SC (12 titles)
TV partnersFootball Sri Lanka TV
Websitehttps://football.lk/
Current: 2021–22 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]

Most championships

The number of national championships that clubs in Sri Lanka have attained.

Club
 Number of Championships
Saunders SC12
Ratnam SC5
Renown SC4
Colombo FC3
Negambo Youth2
Defenders (previously Army SC)2
Old Bens SC1
Pettah United SC1
Blue Star SC1
Don Bosco SC1
Air Force SC1
Solid SC1

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 Football Sri Lanka TV.

Stadiums
Sugathadasa
Kalutara Stadium
Jayatilaka Stadium
Matara Stadium
Alburt Pieris
Navy
Prison Ground
Locations of major football grounds in Sri Lanka

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 M.A.M. FarzeenBlue Star SC19
2006–07 Kasun JayasuriyaRatnam SC24
2007–08 Kasun JayasuriyaRatnam SC12
2008–09 Kasun JayasuriyaRenown SC13
2009–10 Mohamed FazalRenown SC14
2014–15 Mohamed IzzadeenArmy SC26
2015M.C.M. Rifnaz[2]Renown SC9
2016–17 Job MichealRenown SC11
2017–18 Job MichealRenown SC19

References
  1. "Sri Lanka – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  2. "Colombo FC wins Dialog Champions League". 6 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
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