Gateway College’s Under 18 Football Team etched their name in history once again by securing the International Schools U18 Football Championship for the fourth consecutive year, reaffirming their dominance on the schools’ football circuit.

The tournament, held at Moragasmulla from the 2nd to 12th of February, saw Gateway begin their campaign in commanding fashion. They topped their group with a resounding 4–0 victory over CIS Colombo, followed by a confident 3–1 win against hosts Royal Institute, setting the tone for another remarkable run.

As the competition progressed, Gateway’s midfield emerged as the heartbeat of the team. Captain and Sri Lanka U17 national player Nusraan Nazeer, alongside his national teammate Hamood Rizwan, controlled proceedings with composure and technical brilliance. Their dominance in midfield ensured that Gateway dictated the tempo of every match, constantly creating opportunities while being supported by a disciplined and organiseddefence.

Gateway moved through the knockout stages with authority. A clinical 2–0 victory over Lyceum Nugegoda in the quarter-finals was followed by a convincing 3–0 win against Gateway Kandy in the semi-finals, setting up a much-anticipated final against Elizabeth Moir side.

At the final, Gateway emerged victorious with a narrow but deserved 1–0 win. The solitary goal came from forward Rehan Jayasinghe, whose superb strike sealed the championship. Rehan finished as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive tally of eight goals. Goalkeeper Mahir Imran was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, recognising his consistency and crucial saves throughout the campaign.

Gateway’s latest triumph further cements their supremacy in International Schools football. With the Under 20 team having secured their seventh consecutive International Schools Championship at the end of last year, the school continues to set the benchmark in school-level football.

Gateway’s success is not limited to the International Schools circuit. At the national level, the Under 14 team delivered an outstanding performance by finishing third at the Sri Lanka Schools’ Samaposha All Island Football Tournament. In the third-place playoff held at the Race Course Stadium on 11th February, Gateway defeated Holy Cross Kalutara 3–0 to secure a place among the top three school teams in the country.

Their All Island campaign followed their crowning as Colombo District joint champions on 2nd February. Travelling to Baddegama, Galle for the national tournament, Gateway recorded impressive victories over Shams Central College Maruthmunai, Holy Cross Kalutara, Lyceum Gampaha and Trinity College Kandy before narrowly losing a hard-fought semi-final encounter against St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna.

The rise of Gateway College Colombo into the top tier of Sri Lankan school football is evident across all age groups. The Under 20 team’s third-place finish in the Sri Lanka Schools All Island Division I Tournament at the end of last year further underscores the school’s consistent performance and structured football development pathway. With sustained excellence at both international schools’ level and the national stage, Gateway College continues to shape a generation of talented footballers, reinforcing its reputation as a powerhouse in Sri Lankan school football.