Kandy SC enabling the future in Rugby Kandy Sports Clubs destiny this season in inter-club rugby is in the hands of four individuals, Trustee Malik Samarawickrema the king maker of the game since 1992, Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijasuriya, Johan Taylor the experience Coach and Sean Wijensinghe the skipper appointed for 2014/15. Its all Malik Samarawickremas pleasant approach is drawing the players to Nittawela with innovative ideas that encourages the players to unite and be one team. While experience of Lasantha Wijasuriya who led this club to win the triple in 1997 and being unbeaten has the know how to drive in values, courage, respect, responsibility, integrity among the players, Rugby coach Johan Taylor, an experienced coach from Ireland is the ideal candidate to handle the team during the present trend. He first came to Kandy in 2007 and guided them with his expertise to win tournaments for six long years and his last year was in 2012. A South African now settled down in Ireland, a fully fledged coach, made Kandy Sports Club proud by bring honor to the city. Sean Wiejsinghe a product of Trinity College represented the club for many years and also captained the club and the country. It was under his leadership that this club won the triple crown last, few years back. Therefore, he comes back as captain on popular request, by the players, committee and every one who supports this club. His pleasant approach and commitment to the game should win him full support of his teammates to overcome the challenges, they have to expect from the other clubs. The team manager Kapila Silva, with his years of experience represented Isipathana College, CR and FC, Kandy SC and the National team will be an added incentive for the team to look back at the good prospects enjoyed by the club in the past and have another go to defend our clubs position, together with him, former Royalist N. M. Jamaldeen has been appointed as convener for the team to guide Kandy Sports Club the one and only team from Kandy to be once again a force to recon with in the next rugby league tournament which is scheduled to commence on November 7, 2014. Last Sunday, the 29th the AGM was held at the late Lt.Gen. Denzil Kobbekkduwa pavilion, among a large crowd of life members, ordinary members, sponsors, well wishes and rugby players (members). The Executive Committee comprised of the following - Former player in 1955, committee member and President Dharmasiri Madugalle coming in as Patron for another term, Malik Samarawickrema as Trustee together with Hemaka Amarasuriya both former Royal College ruggerites. Dr. Sarath Kapuwatha retained his position as President for the 18th time, with next man to take over the leadership Udaya Balasuriya as Senior vice president together with H. Marikar and Mahesh Weerasinghe as Vice Presidents. Lesley de Zoysa comes back to his pet position as Secretary, and hard working Channa Jayatilake Treasurer. Milroy Mendis, Maurice Joachim and Janaka Pathirante are new Secretaries for Ground, Pavilion and Bar and new comer Arafat Abdeen will handle the Cue sport. The Committee was made out of Lasantha Wijasuriya, Sujeewa Liyanage, Anurudha Ranasinghe, Anton Nanayakra, Samseer Jaleel, Lasantha Fonseka, Niyas Majeed, Upali Silva, Upul Jaysuriya, Dr. Anura Walikala, M. Jiffry is the legal consultant with Sajith Mallikarachchia as the SLRFU representative, Nalaka Weerakkody Indoor Games captain, Lionel de Silva is the Administrative Manager with Asela Wickremasinghe as his assistant manager. In the past Kandy Sports Club, has done very well at rugby, they first entered the cup finals in 1954, then in 1955, and next was in 1969 and later in 1978. Thereafter since, 1992 they have been dominating the game, except in 1998 and 2013 when they failed to obtain any trophy under Asoka Jayasena, and Roshan Weerarthne. Beyond this they have done very well and on the winning streak under the captains - Ananda Kasthuriarchchi, Maurice Joachim (both captained in one season), Priyantha Ekanayake, Saman Kothalawella, Indragith Bandaranayake, Lasantha Wijasuriya, Dunstan de Silva, Imthi Marikar, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Haris Omar, Nalaka Weerakodi, Pradeep Basnayake, Jeewa Glagamuwa, Sanjeewa Jayaisnghe, Radika Hettiarchchi, Sean Wijeisnghe, Senaka Bandara, Saliya Kumara, Pradeep Liyanage and Fazil Marija. A look back at Kandy Sports Club it has a long history, founded in 1874 by a group of pioneer planters. They were then known as the Kandy Athletic, Boating, Cricket and Dancing Club. The name to Kandy Sports Club changed in 1884 and their activities were Football, Cricket, Rugger, Hockey, Athletics and Polo. During which time the Bogamabara grounds were the home of Kandy Sports Club, for many years. The club house then built was taken over by the military authorities in 1939 during the 2nd World War, and later the building was requisitioned for the General Hospital nurses quarters. In 1949 the Cabbage dumping land at Nitawella was leased to the Club by the Kandy Municipal Council and by 1954 due to the keen efforts of the Committee members within no time the ground was established and the club house was built with their funds, and now Nitawella has become the permanent residence of the Kandy Sports Club. This writer together with Malik Samrawickrema made a request to President Mahinda Rajapaksa after a Kandy Sports Club - Navy Sports Club game, to release the grounds to this club which is on lease for several decades and it was mentioned that all the money spent on this development work was from the club. The President at once called the Mayor of Kandy and told him to fulfill their request as this club is a great source of encouragement to the game of rugby for both clubs and schools in the Kandy, however, this matter is still pending and we are certain that it will be done early, and another remainder has been sent to the President. In the mean time the sporting Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage on a request made by Malik Samarawickrema has promised to give hand to up grade the grounds, Kandy needs a international standard rugby grounds. Kandy Sports club today is a fully equipped rugby grounds of International standard with all the requisites made available for rugby players, schools and its members. Thanks to Malik Samarawickrema for finding a wealthy sponsor to provide an Ultra Modernized Gymnasium with all equipments in 2000 by one of his business associates from Hong Kong - Motti Kafry in memory of Late. Jacob Yankale Trachitman was opened on 5th August 2000 as - Jacobs Ultra Gymnasium The playing field was completely reconstructed in 2007 under contractor Tony Witham - with Australian Burmuda grass and leveled to prevent water logging, Both players dressing rooms with all facilities were upgraded, the club house and the viewing galleries were completely restructured to International requirements. Everyone must remember Singer Sri Lanka Ltd with Chairman Hemaka Amrasuriya for his generous contributions towards the development of the club since year 2000 and still. Behind all this development and promotional activities we are proud to say that the driving force has always been Malik Samrawickrema together with the committee being the live wire and motivation towards the club. Malik did what Kerry Packer did for cricket in 1970s, he brought in professionalism to the game, now almost all the clubs are so. The players themselves were aware that they have something to fall back on after rugby their rugby careers and in this deep concern for the club Malik got the service of some of the top overseas coaches to revamp the game. We also, cannot forget the services rendered by the following personalities towards the club over the years that of - Gordon Piper snr., Fred E. de Silva, E.L. Senanayake, Sir Benet Soysa, P.A. Bultjens, Maj. O.L.L.Lebbe, J. Penny, K.B. Sanagakara, Col. Stanlely Ratwatte, J.C.A. Dunuwille, Sydney Ratwatte, Stanley Martin, Chandra Wijenayake, E.W.Balasuiriya, Dr. C.D.L. Fernando, William Weerasinghe, Maurice Perera, S.W. Pathinayake, Alien Wanigasekara, Dr.S. Nadesen, Lt.Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Dr. John Karunarthne all these great promoters are no more, then there are people like Y.C.Chang, Oswin Silva, Irwin Howie, owie, Ho HowieHH Nico de Silva, Dr. Sarath Kapuwatha, Priyantha Ekanayake, George Simpkin, Chris Padfield, Iswan Omar, Leslie Zoysa, Palitha Amarasinghe, Kishin Buttani, Hassan Sinhawansa, Nimal Lewke who guided to win he triple as coach, Emil Vander Pooten, Dharmasri Madugalle, Lasantha Wijasuirya, Sarath Perera, Malath Fernando, Anil Jayasinghe, this writer, Nihal Ratwatte and Nimal Guansekara these last two names took care of the ground maintenances to what it is now, there may be many more names but thee are names which came to my mind. -
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:02:50 +0000
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