Kandy SC's AGM today

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

The annual general meeting of 141 year old Kandy Sports Club will be held at the club house at Nittawela, Kandy today Sunday June 29th commencing at 10.30 a.m.

Kandy Sports Club was founded during the reign of the British Raj and was known as ABC Club Standing for Athletic Boating and Cricket Club. The club was all European with the expatriate planters being members. The club later changed its name to Kandy Rovers and also introduced rugby which had then taken its roots in Sri Lanka.

One may wonder how Kandy Sports Club could be 141 years old. The answer is simple - any institution could change its name but cannot lose its history.

KSC - a household name

Kandy Sports Club is a household name in Sri Lanka and single handedly carried the outstation rugby flag when other planter clubs like Dimbula Dickoya, Uva, Kelani valley dropped out of the premier rugby tournament with the changes in the plantations and exodus of planters to other countries and seeking other avenues of employment.

But Kandy Sports Club saw these changes from a different angle and strengthened themselves to meet the challenges of the time. Their aim was that outstation rugby should survive and it was not mere survival but survival with dynamism and results. They achieved both in a very big way and made them the talk of the country and made themselves a household name.

Malik - talented leader

This was all possible due to the vision and dynamism displayed by former President of SLRFU and Royal College and CR and FC ruggerite Malik Samarawickrema. His first task was the stopping of talented ruggerites leaving Kandy. He did this by providing lucrative jobs in his chain of factories. His employees were well looked after.

In 1992, Kandy Sports Club won its first rugby title the prestigious Clifford Cup. Since then, there has been no turning back and they have won the most number of trophies in rugby history. There were many offered. From 1951 they have been triple champions many times. In winning trophies, their only blemish was in 1998 and 2013 when they failed to win a trophy.

Kandy to push forward

But they are out to come out with vengeance under their new captain flanker and No. 8 Old Trinitian and National player Sean Wijesinghe who will have the difficult task of bring back the winning ways of Kandy Sports Club.

He has captained the club earlier with tremendous success with his experience in rugby for over 14 years amiable Sean Wijesinghe in the right person to bring back the glory days of Kandy SC.

Taylor - head coach

South African born Yohan Taylor who played most of his rugby in Ireland will be back in the saddle as the head coach of the club. He is due in the hill capital at anytime. It must be remembered Yohan Taylor coached Kandy Sports Club for six years and his coaching stint was certainly result oriented. One who won the hearts of the ruggerites with his friendly ways.

Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte is tipped to hold the reigns of President for the 18th year since 1990.