Kandy's hockey fans should get together to lift sport again!

by Hafiz Marikar

When will Kandy's hockey reach its past glory? When Kandy District Hockey is spoken about of its fine image several decades ago, history speaks of another milestone in the country's sporting arena. Although one is probably aware, Sri Lanka, in spite of being a little island of lesser significance on the global map, has had excellent relations with the rest of the world throughout history. Records show that there was an ambassador of the calibre of the late P.T. Rajan who was ambitious to produce big time hockey in the district of Kandy. Late P.T. Rajan, a well-known educationist, versatile sportsman, sports benefactor, philanthropist and above all a gentleman, of the highest caliber was in the district. Several instances in his illustrious career and public life displayed strong character, integrity and honesty as a true sportsman and gentleman sports administrator. He was a great promoter of hockey.

Going back to its history, it was P.T. Rajan who revived hockey in Kandy in the late 1930s and introduced it to the schools and clubs. After the revival and formation of the Kandy District Hockey Association initiated by P.T. Rajan, he had the invaluable support and encouragement by the late M.S. Jainudeen, V.D. Paul and J.O. Mendis to promote the game with only a handful of clubs taking interest. The teams during that period were Indian Students Hostel, St. Anthony's College under the name of "Hotspurs", Trinity College under the name of "Rabbits", Kingswood College, Kandy Rovers SC and Imperial Motor Garage Hockey Club. As years went by hockey flourished in Kandy with several schools in and around Kandy taking to hockey. During the World War large number of clubs and schools including foreign teams played in Kandy.

Hockey thrives

Hockey in Kandy dates far back as 1907, when the Indian Rajput Regiments occupied the Kandy Military Barracks, currently known as Police Barracks. During that time St. Anthony's College was housed at the present St. Sylvester's College premises and they used the barracks square for all their sports.

The boys of that era felt drawn to the game themselves and tried their hand at knocking the ball about with a borrowed stick or two. The fearless youngsters found some places vacant whenever the military men did not turn up for their games.

Doing a little research, I found that the first "Bully Off" in Kandy was in the year 1907 at the Bogambara grounds, when the two clubs Kandy Sports Club and Industrial School Team met. The leaders of these two pioneer clubs were Europeans S.R. Hammer and R. Sparks. These two clubs played regularly and had opposition from the Regiments that were stationed in Kandy.

In 1944, the Kandy District Hockey Association conducted one of its finest tournaments where fourteen teams participated in the league. They were St. Anthony's "Hotspurs", Trinity "Rabbits", Kingswood, Police, CLI (Army), Kandy Rovers, Sampans (Army), Blue Jays (Army), All Anglo Indians, Parklands (Army), Indians Legionaries (Army), and South East Command Team of Lord Mountbatten's staff).

Philip Buultjens excels

At this tournament Kandy Rovers having a better side in their ranks, including Philip Buultjens the greatest Sri Lankan sportsman of all time. Came on top. He excelled in all games he represented. Douglas Bartholomeusz, former Thomian cricket captain, F.H.B. Wood, the Chaplain Trinity a county player, Sam Elhart of Trinity, Victor Ratnawale, H.W. Bobby Jayaweera of Trinity led the side. This team had the distinction of winning the league championship and also played that year in the Connor Cup and the Andriesz Shield tournaments in Colombo.

During the next few years, the standard of hockey was kept up and in 1950 P.T. Rajan presented a trophy called the P.T. Rajan Cup for the league. Even Matale participated. During those early days in addition to the P.T. Rajan Cup there was the M.S. Jainudeen Cup for the League runners-up, Seven-a-Side Tournament for K.P.M.M. Seyed Ahamed Challenge Cup and the V.H.L. Anthonisz Challenge Cup for the knock-out tournament.

It is said in 1944 M.S. Jainudeen organized a match to help the war effort and that was a great success. The game was played at the Trinity College grounds at Asgiriya.

Today, Kandy has a great interest for hockey, The people interested in the game should get themselves organise and once again spread this sport to the clubs and schools, so that there will be interest and thereby spread this sport throughout - Kandy