Maurice Joachim led Kandy to win Clifford Cup Rugby in 1992

by Hafiz Marikar

Maurice Joachim of Kandy Sports Club has been hailed as the first Rugby Captain to lead a side and win a trophy in the history of Clifford Cup. In 1954, S.B. Pilapitiya, 1955, Jeff MacPerson, 1969 Denzil Kobbekaduwa, 1978 Irwin Howie all failed to win after entering the Cup final, but it was Maurice who has appeared in 102 appearances, as a makeshift captain helped the club to win the first cup. That was history for Kandy Sports Club rugby.

To be at the same club all the way through from being a young boy is an amazing feat in this professional age, and became a club championship figure through his try-scoring exploits and infamous mullet which he sported for six years.

Maurice Joachim who took over the captaincy from Ananda Kasthuriarachchi, led in the league to take the second place. Ananda, a Kingswoodian had a stiff task and he had to give way for Maurice to lead the Kandy Sports Club to win the Clifford Cup, in the knockout tournament for the first time in the history in 1992.

Maurice, as he is known by his friends, was one of the top playing threequarters to come out of the Katugastota Antonians. He was coached by two top ruggerites like Kalu Perera, a well known figure in the coaching arena, and Ajith Fernando.

Soon after the schools season, Viper Gunaratne jnr., dragged him to Kandy Sports Club, and found him a job at Ceylon Tobacco Leaf Division. After some time, Maurice joined Malik Samarawickrema's Penguin Sports Wear Garments with great involvement with Kandy. Maurice got the 'break' in 1990 to lead the Kandy S.C. team, and also he was called upon to lead the side in 1992 for the Clifford Cup Knockout. He led the side to win the Clifford Cup for the first time in the 42 year old history. And also he led the side in 1988 and 1989, when the regular Captain Anil Jayasinghe and C.S. Ekanayake were on the injured list.

He played for the Nittawela Club from 1985 to 1993. When he led them to win the Clifford Cup in 1992, he was coached by Alex Lazarus and the players who were his teammates were - L.V. Ekanayake, Shyam Sideek, Kitti Rataudra, Priyantha Ekanayake, Palitha Wijasuriya, Edward Wijesuriya, Leroy Fonseka, K. Ratnayake, Indragith Bandaranayake, Imthi Marikar, Batti Penaia, Saman Kotelawala, Kapila Samarakoon, Pubudu Fernando, Jayson Gauthrie, Rizvi Suhaib, Sabri Razak.

Maurice, was keen in joining either Sri Lanka Army or Police to pursue his rugby career as during that period rugby was in vogue with the forces, but it was Viper Gunaratne Jnr who changed his mind, and wanted him to be in Kandy and help Kandy Sports Club.

Maurice must be thankful to Viper Gunaratne jnr, Priyantha Ekanayake and also not forgetting Malik Samarwickrema for all their advice, guidance, and support towards building up career in rugby and employment.

This year, the club has invited him to help them in the maintenance and upkeep of the rugby grounds when it was restructured and declared as an International rugby venue in 2006 in Asia. The Singer-Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby Sevens International was held at this venue until 2008, under the auspices of the SLRFU, ARFU and IRB since 2009.

This venue went into neglect, due to poor basic knowledge of ground maintenance. Nihal Ratwatte did a good job to put things in order, and now Maurice has taken over this year and now it is very pleasing to see that the grounds has once again got back to what it was in 2006.

Maurice helped Kandy Sports Club rugby in a big way, and also he made valuable contribution to improve rugby in Kandy. During his playing days, he was best, and he was marked at every game, if he got the ball, it was sure of a good move. He was famous for his scissor passes and dummies. He had a fine style of playing and he had a crouched running action, knees bent, head held low and had long strides that made a difficult ask for the opponents to bring him down.

He was expert for good rugby and would execute, moves at top speed, make side-step breakaways and a corkscrew or change of direction was simple for him. He was one of the finest ruggerites who made the rugby circle colourful and courageous as a player, Maurice was synonymous with rugger and he is one player who was able to make or break games, with his boot especially. Maurice has a lot of know-how in him and should give off his bet for his club, where he has earned a name.