Brothers Piyaratne, Piyatissa teach underprivileged children football

by Upananda JAYASUNDERA -Kandy Sports Special Corr.

FOOTBALL: Two brothers - Piyaratne and Piyatissa Samarakoon in Sigiriya in the Dambulla electorate are helping underprivileged children to play football. They not only coach the young boys and girls in the art of playing the game but also find the young'uns sport equipment and also provide them with nourishment.

Younger brother Piyatissa makes his customary visit to Sri Lanka when on holiday from Sweden where he is employed. Piyatissa joins his brother Piyaratne in teaching the fundamentals in soccer.

Piyatissa played for Sri Lanka when he was here between 1966 and 1970. He captained Dharmaraja College, Kandy too.

In 1970 he went to Germany and followed a six-month coaching course in soccer and there were national players from 30 countries that participated. From Germany he went to Sweden.

Piyatissa does not forget to come to Sri Lanka on holiday and he joins his brother in teaching the fundamentals of soccer to the young boys and girls. Piyaratne migrated to Germany in 1966 and from there he went to Norway where he is employed as a technical officer. He is the one who started the coaching classes for the underprivileged boys and girls. There is another 'Diamond' Seneviratne of Kandy who is also helping them.