Visakha Vidyalaya - waterpolo champions

by Leslie FERNANDO

WATERPOLO: Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo recorded a great year of waterpolo after the huge setback they faced in 2008.

This became possible due to a series of reasons which finally resulted in Visakha claiming authority on the biggest stage of them all by becoming the National Champions 2009 beating Navy 7-4 and Ladies College 3-2 while, tournament also featured 2008 champion team Sri Lanka Air Force (4th this year). The reasons behind the success story are many. However, the generation of synergistic benefits by the current Royal-Thomian Combination of coaches has been the critical success factor of this champion outfit.

Sanjaya Fernando, 27, a production of Royal College (1994-2001) is a past National player and also he is one of the two National Coaches of the fist ever national women's team of Sri Lanka. Fernando is respected as a prime factor of the first ever Dr. R.L. Hayaman Trophy victory of Royal College over S. Thomas' in 2005.

However, upon assisting Royal to retain the trophy in 2006 he moved on to take charge as the Head Coach of Sri Lanka Air Force in 2007 before joining Visakha Vidyalaya as a coach in 2009.

Sanjaya Fernando has been involved in his pet sport waterpolo for 16 years and has been a coach for five years. He had the distinction of captaining the Royal College Union Aquatic Club in 2009 and was the vice captain of Royal under-19 team in 2001. He has excelled in the position of right bar from 1994 to 1996 and was fine goalkeeper during 1997 to 2005.

Zafar Zainudeen, 23, a production of S. Thomas' College (1998-2005) is a double colours man in waterpolo and rugby at S. Thomas'. Zainudeen represented School first seven and first fifteen teams in waterpolo and rugby respectively. Zafar is currently a member of the champion Military Navy waterpolo team in the capacity of goalkeeper in addition to his commitment as a coach in the Visakha camp. Further, Zafar was also a member of the national championship winning team MAS SC in 2007.

The expert knowledge of handling different teams which are of different standards and spot identification of opposition weaknesses while also not forgetting the experience gained through guiding the national team in international matches Fernando brings in that extra edge required for the champion outfit to conquer into unteachable territory.

On the other hand, the current involvement as a team member of Navy has made it possible for Zafar to understand the fast moving game of waterpolo that is played today and the required technical advancements along with the analytical evaluation of negatives that may occur during a game resulting as an added boost for Visakha with the edge required to move a stage ahead.

Sanjaya (16) and Zafar (12) accounts for 28 years of combined experience in the sport.

Along with the above dynamic combination, the next most senior player of the Visakha outfit Elisha Gomes who is tipped to take reigns as the captain is also a renowned figure in the aquatics arena. She has represented the country in synchronized swimming while she had to give up her nomination for the national waterpolo pool due to her GCE Ordinary Level commitments. The ability possessed by her during the past few matches has shown a great leader in the making that will also prove handy for Visakha in reaching the next stratum.

In addition Visakha possesses another distinct advantage for the coming year where in 2009 it featured five under-15 players in its under-19 segment and one of these players also had the great honour of representing the first ever women's national team (scored two international goals against Macau) due to her beyond par performance and, another 14-year-old proved to be unstoppable during the season with at least a goal each in almost every match.

This young blood can represent Visakha for another four to seven years which would pose a huge threat for the other teams in the island and hence, showing signs of taking Visakha to the next echelon. Further, Visakha will continue to possess the luxury of two sprint swimmers during the years to come while, one of them incidentally was the vice captain of 2009 with a flurry of goals under her belt and the other managing to score a hat trick of goals in the critical semi-final against Navy at the national championships.

However, one thing is for sure; 2010 will be a year to be remembered for Visakha with one strong headed people friendly captain, one super team, and two dynamic coaches going for a single target.

It's a matter of time!!!

The champion team was represented by Yoshini Liyanage, Aneka Abeywickrema, Limashi Kosgodage, Malweena Jyawardene, Elisha Gomes, Karishinie Peiris, Senaka Abeywickrema, Varuni Ekanayake, Shavindri de Silva, Yoshani de Silva, Denumi Panditha, Shivani Gunawardena, Charindee Weerasinghe.