Moors S.C. celebrate centenary on grand scale

By Leslie Fernando

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS: Moors Sports Club is all set to celebrate its centenary next year with a sports gala that will be well worth watching. The man behind the scene will be their indefatigable President Shafeek Rajabdeen who was elected to that coveted "office" for the 10th successive year.

Before he was elevated to be President, Rajabdeen was Treasurer of the club for 14 years and he has been instrumental in making the club a homely place for all.

Many sports events have been planned to celebrate the big occasion in a fitting way. President's Cup Billiards, Inter-Muslim Community Twenty20 cricket tournament to be played between Malays, Memoms, Bohras and Moors S.C. next month at Moors S.C. grounds. The Golden Oldies open six-a-side cricket tournament among all premier clubs in memory of late Falil A. Cafoor - a former President, Centenary Trophy cricket in memory of late Raheman A. Hathy - another former President.

There will also be 6 Red Snooker Masters Championships, Open All-Island Billiards Championship, Open English Snooker Championship and Open Inter-Club Billiards and Snooker Championship and Plot Black 2008 Championship.

Tennis players too have not been forgotten. An Open Junior Tennis Ranking Tourney for boys and girls of age 10, under 12, under 16 and under 18 will be conducted in association with the Sri Lanka Tennis Association. Moors Sports Club will celebrate the centenary with President Mahinda Rajapaksa opening the Sports Complex and celebrations will be conducted from January 2008 to June 2008.

Right now the Moors S.C. have got accommodation for the cricketers and a viewing gallery was declared opened by Jayantha Dharmadasa - President of the Interim Committee of the Cricket Board. Rajabdeen thanked the Cricket Board President Jayantha Dharmadasa for the generous gift of Rupees 4 million and a further grant of Rs. 2.5 Million has been assured for the cricketers development project - and this is the biggest grant from the Board of Control towards any club.