Menikdiwela Central create big upset beat Kingswood College 2-1

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

HOCKEY: Menikdiwela Central College from the village of Yatinuwara created one of the biggest upsets in recent years when they beat the better fancied Kingswood College by three goals to two in their Kandy Schools Boys Under 17 hockey tournament match organised by the Kandy District Schools Hockey Association and played at the University Grounds, Peradeniya on Friday. At half-time, Kingswood College led 2 -1.

What is remarkable about Menikdiwela Central's victory was the fact that they started hockey at junior level only about five years ago and practised on a small ground close to the school.

They did not have a hockey coach as they could not afford to have one. The boys practised hard in the afternoons and this instilled the killer instinct in them and the will to win as there was no outside help and the boys had to find their own bus fare. Kingswood College, on the other hand, have a hockey history of over 60 years and have all the amenities.

They are coached by one of the top hockey coaches in the hill capital A.B. Godigamuwa. By an irony of fate, it was Godigamuwa who started hockey at Menikdiwela Central College and later gave up. The match started on a brisk note and the Kingswoodians ran up an early lead two goals by centre forward P.D.B. Ekanayake in the 17th and 20th minute of first half and an easy victory for them appeared on the cards.But the Menikdiwela 'stickers' fought back and reduced the lead in the 23rd minute through centre forward D.G.S. Madusanka. Two more goals in 4th minute and 14th minute of the second half by D.G.S. Madusanka gave him not only a hat-trick of goals but also a victory for his team.