Memories are made of this...

Come tomorrow and Mobitel and Sunday Observer' will, as they usually do every year honour the stars that shone brightly in the inter-school firmament by bringing them on stage at the Bandaranaike International Hall and richly rewarding tham.

Initially, this column gives credit to sponsors Mobitel for partnering the best selling weekly the 'Sunday Observer' at the wicket and scoring for the cricketer, the game and the schools who shone like beacons in the recently concluded school season.

Sri Lanka Telecom management and Mobitel led by Chief Executive Officer Suren Amerasekera donned pads when called upon by Editor in chief, Sunday Observer' Dinesh Weerawansa and have batted, scoring all round the wicket and the beneficiaries have been the schoolboy cricketers.

Not unnoticed

'We care.Always' goes the motto of Mobitel and that they care for everything that matters is well-known. Not only do they care for their customers, but for all things. Their caring does not go unnoticed.

Mobitel has been the recipient of several awards and their recent award being the 'Best in customer service' which is another feather in their cap. In sponsoring the 'Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the year 'contest, which is a contest that beats all other contests, they have played their part to perfection and the cricketers who will have the spotlights focused on them will remain ever grateful.

When talking about this 'Schoolboy cricketer contest', as schoolboy cricketers at St. Benedict's College Kotahena, Leslie 'Cowdrey' Fernando who has been a livewire in helping to successfully conducting this contest over the years and yours truly had dreams of winning awards.

Many are called

It is said that many are called and few are chosen. And we were not lucky to be in that few. That's how the game goes. In those days it was our sister paper - the 'Daily News' that pioneered the 'Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year' Contest in the early fifties.

Reports reaching us have it that those who have performed during the season and in line for honours and their supporters have geared themselves to raid the venue shouting slogans, singing their college anthems, cheering and carrying shoulder high the winners making it one big, unforgettable and memorable event.

The sponsors and the organizers have kept the winners of every category a top secret. The winners will be known only once the master of ceremonies opens the envelope and announces the names of the winners.

To Maris Stella College, a leading Christian Brothers institution in Negombo goes the proud honour of winning the 'Fair Play' Trophy for being the best behaved school team during the season.

To the rules

Above winning or losing, what matters most is how one played the game. It is true that one must play the game to win. But at the same time in winning one must always endeavour to play to the rules, respect the opponents and play the game.

It is then that the thrill of winning will be felt, enjoyed, appreciated and treasured most above every thing else. And Maris Stella College cricketers have been an example to all sportsmen and women in this aspect. The Maris Stella cricketers have done just this and so the reward of the 'Fair Play' Trophy.

The 'Fair Play' Trophy award was the brainchild of a former winner of the 'Schoolboy Cricketer' Contest for two consecutive years - 1978 and 1979 Ranjan Madugalle of Royal College. Madugalle a former Sri Lanka captain and stylish batsman is today the most respected and chief of ICC match referees.

Greatness

Another who achieved greatness was Ananda's Arjuna Ranatunga also a winner of this contest for two years - 1980 and 1982 who went on to lead the country to its most memorable success, the winning of the World Cup beating Australia in the final in Lahore in the 1995/96 tournament.

In this aspect it must also be recalled that Mahela Jayawardena who was a wonderful schoolboy cricketer at Nalanda and although not winning an award in this contest, led Sri Lanka and his team mates to great honour and by example to win the International Cricket Council's 'Spirit of Cricket' award for two consecutive years which was great pride to the country.

All sportsmen and women who bring credit and honour to their school, club or country deserves to be honoured. It is these little things that go to encourage them and spur them on to doing better.

Remembered

So Mobitel and the "Sunday Observer' will always be remembered and held in high esteem for giving honour where honour is due and spurring and galvanizing the cricketers of today to be the country's best tomorrow.

A scrutiny will show that many of the award winners in this contest had made great progress and gone on to represent the country with great honour and distinction. It is the rewarding of their efforts at these contests that made them determined to achieve stardom and which they ultimately did.

A cricketer who won this award last year and who is taking the local and international cricket scene by storm is former Ananda cricketer Dinesh Chandimal. Chandimal a stylish right hand batsman scored consistently in the school circuit to win the main award.

Impetus

The honour that was bestowed on him by Mobitel and the 'Sunday Observer' has gone to give him the impetus to do even better and today he is continuing the good work and is set to take the cricket world by storm.

The devastating century he scored to help Sri Lanka send the Indians packing in the Micromax Trophy triangular which also included the Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe, will long be remembered by those who were fortunate to watch his heroics with the bat on TV.

Other winners of this contest who went on to captain the country were Roshan Mahanama and Marvan Atapattu. Mahanama won the award for two years - 1983 and '84 and is now an ICC match referee.

Another winner of 1991 and who has left his mark and who is most remembered is that off spinning sensation Muttiah Muralitharan of St. Anthony's College, Kandy. He is now the world's leading wicket-taker in Test and one-day cricket.

Punishing

Asanka Gurusinha of Nalanda a punishing left hand batsman,won this award in 1985 and went on to play for Sri Lanka in the World Cup winning team. Kumar Dharmasena also of Nalanda won this award in 1989 and played in the World Cup winning team and is now in the ICC panel of elite umpires.

Thilan Samaraweera of Ananda won the award in 1994 and '95 and went on to play for Sri Lanka. Sanjeewa Ranatunga of Ananda who won the award in 1988 and Farveez Mahroof of Wesley who won the award in 2003 also sported Sri Lanka colours.

Over then to the Bandaranaike International Hall and for a night to remember by the winners and all present.