JICA-Dialog Partnership brings FIFA World Cup to two rural schools

As the whole world is enthralled in football fever with the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar, two schools from Kurunegala and Vavuniya were given an opportunity to watch the FIFA World Cup Japan vs. Costa Rica match LIVE and play a few friendly games amongst each other in an initiative jointly organised by Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider Dialog Axiata and the Japan International Corporation Agency, recently.

The girls’ and boys’ football teams of Saraswathy Vidyalayam in Suntharapuram, Vavuniya and Football players of the Sputnik International Education Center in Kurunegala, came together in Vavuniya on Sunday to play the game they loved so much.

The 8-a-side friendly games were played with players from both schools mixed together – so that each team consisted of members from Saraswathy Vidyalayam boys’ team, girls’ team, and Sputnik International Education Centre for an evening of friendship and camaraderie within each team.

The friendly games were followed by the screening of the FIFA World Cup first round game between Japan and Costa Rica live at the school hall. The FIFA game was also screened live at the Sputnik International Education Center – a Japanese language school in Kurunegala.

Over 150 students, teachers and guests were able to enjoy the excitement and the sportsmanship of the game at each location.