Coach Amalka Gunatilleke has put HFC, Kurunegala on top in netball

by Priyan DE SILVA - Matara Sports Corr.

NETBALL: Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala wont the overall title for the fourth consecutive year in the All-Island 'A' division netball finals among girls schools.

The standard maintained by the Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala was really high and they had a team in all the finals.

The under-12 final was particularly pleasing for the Kurunegala school as both teams in the final were from their school.

Holy Family Convent Kurunegala won in all age groups except under 14 where Maliyadeva Girls came on top and HFC Kurunegala had to be satisfied with the runners-up berth.

Determination to do well was the hall mark of the Kurunegala girls and in teacher-in-charge and coach Amalka Gunatilleke they had a teacher who got the best out of the team.

Amalka Gunatilleke - an old girl of school, was entrusted the task of the developing the game at Holy Family, Kurunegala in 2003 and with careful planning, Amalka Gunatilleke was able to get the best out of the girls. Amalka's efforts paid dividends and the school emerged overall champs in 2008 and they have kept up their high standard of play. What has encouraged the girls of Holy Family Kurunegala girls to do well is the able assistance given by Ananda Wannitillaka - Amalka's husband Ananda - a former volleyball player conducts the physical training schedules of the girls and this husband-and-wife combination has got the best out the various teams at Holy Family convent, Kurunegala in netball.