Kandy's great rise in Rugby Football

By Hafiz MARIKAR

RUGBY: Indeed, it isn't coincidence that Kandy's rise in rugby, synchronized with Malik Samarawickrema's shift in loyalty, but the garment industry tycoon sees it differently. You can pour in all the funds and material, but if you don't have the men and the sprit to convert these things to success, you'll still be dead.

Fortunately for Kandy Sports Club, its officials, sponsors and well-wishers with the sprit has delivered all facilities at all times, giving their best for players, with the encouragement to perform at the highest levels. They talk less and work hard to bring the club up to its present standard. A few days back, they had their Annual General Meeting with the continued sponsorship from Singer, Sri Lanka Ltd and Etisalat PLC for 2011. Yet, these days of glory can be not permanent, given the clubs total reliance on Malik Samarawickrema. It is comforting, however, that such an eventuality hasn't gone unnoticed. "Business is a fickle thing, but whatever happens to the business it should not affect Kandy SC rugby. Sponsorship and support will come somehow as long as our team performs well and a structure is being put in place where there was none at all.

Besides, players are disciplined, committed, focused and have become very professional_that's what has led them to win the Rugby League on 14 occasions in 17 years, and the Clifford Cup Knockout on 16 occasions in 17 outings. All this was after the great Clifford Cup final win in 1993, in the same year Kandy SC was placed third in the League tournament and were runners-up in the R. Premadasa Trophy knockout tournament.

Former Kingswoodian Ananda Kasthuriachchi was the captain appointed, but later in the tournament over a disciplinary issue, Antonian Maurice Joachim was called upon to lead the team. It was under his captaincy they won the first cup.

Kandy SC's untroubled journey to success in all three major tournaments thereafter can be simply put down to their capacity to buy the talent they want and sustain them. The great commitment from the officials and rugby committee whose constant attention and taking care of the players, providing them with the facilities during the season and off season is the main contributory factor.

Long history

Kandy Sports Club has a long history. Founded in 1874 by a group of pioneer planters and was then known as the Kandy Athletic, Boating, Cricket and Dancing Club. The name changed to Kandy Sports Club in the mid 1880s and its activates were Football, Cricket, Hockey, Rugger, Athletics and Polo. During that time they had no grounds but did a little bit of practices at the Police ground and later Bogambara ground was the home of Kandy Sports Club for many years. The Club House then built was taken over by the Military in 1939 during the War. However, afterwards the building was requisitioned by the General Hospital and later it was the Chest Clinic.

In 1949, the garbage dumping ground at Nittawela was leased out to Kandy Sports Club by the Kandy Municipal Council, due to the keenness of the then committee members. They did the needful to make the garbage dumping ground to an Internationally recognised rugby grounds in Sri Lanka today. In 1954, the ground was ready for conducting games. Some of the noteworthy personalities behind the uplift of the Nittawela ground were Chandra Wijenayake, the oldest living member, late Dr. K.B. Sangakkara, late David Bennet, late John Penny, late Frutz Scharenguivel, late Col. Stanley Ratwatte, late E.R. & E.L. Senanayake, late Bennet de Soysa, late Christie Dunuwille, late Dr. J.C. Block.

The old club house was constructed by courtesy of Ceylon Tobacco Company. Kandy Sports Club as a club built the grounds gradually in difficult circumstances to make it a permanent home. Now it is impeccable and Kandyans are very proud of having an international venue in Kandy where school children are honoured to play at this ground.

The opening of the ground was in 1954 and it celebrated by reaching the Clifford Cup final in the five year old tournament. Lady Clifford, wife of Governor Sir. Hugh Clifford awarded the Cup for match on her birthday, in 1911 August 26. It was a game between Kandy United Services and All Ceylon. In 1950 this Cup was introduced to clubs, the following clubs participated: Havelocks SC - the first winners, CH & FC, CR & FC, Kandy Sports Club, Dickoya MCC, Dimbula ACC, Uva and KV. The Clifford Cup is the oldest trophy in the club circuit which took long years to make its way into the self of Kandy Sports Club at Nittawela.

Kandy lost 1954 final

The 1954 Cup final saw Kandy SC meeting CR & FC. With skipper S.B. Pilapitiya being unlucky not to turn his team to a winning side, Kandy lost by 08 to 21 points, one of the players of that 1954 team was Maurice Perera_ the second oldest member of the club. Again in the following year they entered the final under Ken Macpherson, that too was against CR & FC and lost by 0-13 points. Maurice Perera was a member of this team as well. The third Cup final for this club was in 1969, where 1954 and 1955 Cup final prop forward Maurice Perera was the coach. For the third time they met CR & FC at a final. It was after 14 long years. Kandy SC was led by late Denzil Kobbekakduwa had players like Y.C.Chang, Gavin Stevens, Mohan Balasuriya, Gamini Udugama, Jayantissa Ratwatte, George Jayasena, Rohan Abeyasundara, late Deepal de Zoysa, Chang Faa Ching, Shafie Jainudeen, Iswan Omar to name a few. CR & FC 12 Kandy SC 6, but coach Maurice says, this game was in their favour but mistakes by the referee gave CR the win.

Then the fourth cup final was in 1978, under the leadership of Irwin Howie, this time they met Havelocks Sports Club led by Anton Benedict and lost to them. Some of the players who played in the Cup finals were, Irwin Howie captain, S. Munasinghe, S. Serasinghe, S.U. Suan, N. Ananda, L. Dullewe, A. Vought, A. Manchanayake. H.G. Ariyarthne, D.H. Rajaguru, late J. Grey, N. Malagamuwa, I. Uvais, R. Amith, H. Marikar are names which comes to mind. The final score was Havelocks SC 10 Kandy SC 04 and this Cup final was refereed by the 1969 Kandy Sports Club captain Lt. Gen Denzil Kobbekkaduwa.

Kandy won Clifford Cup 1992

Success was achieved finally in 1992 when Kandy SC won the Clifford Cup for the first time by beating the strong Police SC side by 22 points to 9. Since then from 1992 they have been dominating the game in all the tournaments they have played.

Some of the coaches like Alex Lazarus, Nimal Lewke the man who guided to win the triple for the first time, Priyantha Ekanayake, B. Robertson, Paddy Stuart, C.P. Abeyagunawardene, George Simpkin, Tulagasue Laga, present coach Johan Taylor have contributed their best towards the team to be in the driving seat for over two decades.

Kandy Sports Club , has been playing rugby since the game was introduced to us, has a proud history and record. Not only have they produced several champion teams in the last decade, but have also provided the national team with the most number of ruggeites.

At present, Kandy Sports Club is known as the cradle of rugby in Sri Lanka. It is said that Kandy Sports Club takes to rugby like ducks taking to water. Today, Rugby is the most popular sport in the hills and the club has provided its players the best facilities. The most interesting aspect of Kandy SC Rugby is that nearly all members are good ball players.

Kandy determined to figure prominently

Kandy's pin-up boys of local rugby, under the leadership of Saliya Kumara is all out to go for another successful season in 2011. Saliya should be happy that, he has the services of some of the top players of last season and also a few new faces. Last year, skipper Fazil Marija, and former captains, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Sean Wijesinghe, Pradeep Liyanage together with Achalal Perera, Kishore Jehan, Sajith Saranga, Senaka Bandara, Aravinda Udangawa, Budhika Thalagampola, Roshan Weeraratne, Prasad Chaturange, Darshana Etipola, Mohamed Jabar.

At the AGM Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte was re-elected President for the 17th time. It was under his guidance with immense support and contribution from Malik Samarawickrema rugby development takes peace at Nitawella. The ground was given a face lift in 2007. Gen Denzil Kobbekkduwa Memorial Pavilion was put up by Penguin Garments, Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte Pavilion, Priyantha Ekanayake Stand, Nalaka Weerakkody Stand, Indrajith Bandaranaike Media Pavilion, Ultra Modernized Gymansium, Restaurant etc was constructed since 2000, with huge contributions from eminent personalities like Malik Samarawickrema a devoted rugby enthusiastic, philanthropist and rugby lover. The other contributors were: Chandra Wijanayake, late E.W.Balasuriya, Moty Kafry, Kishan Butani, Access International, Singer Sri Lanka Ltd, Central Finance Co, Ltd, Sinhaputhra Finance Co gave the first scoreboard, late T.R.R Rajan of Sun Match was the first sponsor. Hemaka Amarauriya of Singer,Call Link, Access, Sarath Perera the man who put up the tiers on the pres box side. Now this ground can be rated as the best rugby ground in the country.

Chandra Wijenayake, Malik Samarawickrema and Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte were elected as trustees for yet another year. Dharmasiri Madugalle appointed as Patron who replaces former patron late E.W. Balasuirya. 1965 skipper and one time Secretary Emil van der Poorten was elected as Senior Vice President, Vice Presidents: Hafiz Marikar and Nihal Ratwatte, Leslie de Soysa as the Hony. Secretary, Chamly Rajakaruna - the new Hony. Treasurer, Nihal Guansekara, Pavilion Secretary, Rajitha Ratwatte _ former Royal College 'Prop' forward is the new CEO. Captain Rugby Saliya Kumara, Physical Training - Sean Wijesinghe, Billiards and Snooker Tuan Dole.

Committee comprises the following: Former Secretary Mahesh Weerasinghe as Social Secretary, Lasantha Wijesuriya re-elected as Chairman Rugby, Rohan Daulagala - Chairman Gymnasium, Sanjeewa Tenakoon, Anurudha Ranasinghe, Sujeewa Liyanage, Rangith Goonaratne, Gamini Udugama, Udaya Balasuriya, Hemantha Yatawara.

Kapila Silva was re-elected team manager and Johan Taylor Coach, Hafiz Marikar CPRFU representative, Shyam Siddique SLRFU representative and Lionel de Silva Administrative Secretary.