Kandy sports in disarray:

Sports promoters to meet Minister

By Hafiz Marikar

Kandy's football, cricket and hockey games have declined recently at club level. All these sports are in total disarray.A great effort is needed to bring back these sports to the standard where they were.

Looking back these three sports flourished earlier but now, sad to say, no one knows what is happening. Holding office alone is not sufficient, but those in office should promote the sport, nowadays they are more keen in coaching, umpiring and involved sports equipments.

Now, there are handful of sports promoters who have decided to meet the Sports Minister to give a hand to bring back the sports to the position where it was.

It is important that those holding office at club level in the three sports get going to promote their respective sport, particularly because, unlike in the past where funding was a problem, now there are a number of corporate entities who are prepared to support any sport that is managed by clubs whose committees are comprised of those who have the knowledge of the subject they handle and could be trusted to work in the best interest of the sport.

Football - From early years of barefoot competition Kandy has played a vital role in its growth. Of late football has surprisingly taken a back seat in Kandy. In the early days they had league, knockouts and the sevens.

In the past three years no tournaments have been conducted in a proper manner. At one time Kandy served football in Matale, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Kurunagala and Kegalle, and as the years rolled by, these towns formed their own leagues and are now doing better than Kandy.

A look back into Kandy football reveals that football in Kandy had its origins in the mid 1930's during the 2nd world war when the British Units stationed in Kandy, with the one-time Commander in Chief of Allied Forces in South East Asia, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten had his headquarters in the hill capital played the game. Some first class British footballers displayed their versatility.

Some of the leading clubs at that time in Kandy were the Old Antonians SC. Old Kingswoodians SC,. Kandy Sports Club, Police SC, Greenfield SC, Rovers SC and Red Stars SC.

Early in 1942, however, there appeared to be a lack of interest in the game, and the efforts made by S.C.Traill the then secretary to call a meeting of the League having failed he was compelled to return the trophies to their donors.

In the good old days were thriving, at that time Bogambara was the scene of the intense activity and there was scarcely an evening when the ground was not besieged by crowds who were thrilled by the exhibitions given, particularly by the footballers.

Previously the game was promoted to great heights and also produced a President and Secretary from Kandy. These two are the first to hold this position from Kandy. Sad to say, four years back, the controlling body's President not the present, in a surprise move dissolved the hard working committee and appointed his favourites, from that day, they have failed to complete a single tournament in the normal manner.

Football has apparently hit rock bottom. When will Kandy football reach its past glory if football in Kandy is to improve the Controlling Body must put the leagues in the correct path. In the past, Kandy's domestic tournament champions were presented with Rs. 200,000.00 cash award, today they not in a position even to pay even Rs. 5000.00.

They are still to complete the 2013/14 tournament. It is said that final is to be played but no funds are available. If it is true that the FFSL profited in 10 months, can't they help Kandy football?

Hockey - The sports which was introduced by late P.T. Rajan , once was a great sport in Kandy, today the game is in the doldrums. When will Kandy's hockey reach its past glory? 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 the game was at its best. 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. Today the game is in the doldrums, only schools are having their tournaments, club wise there is no promotion. Once year, they have a one day tournament and can be called as the warm up for the AGM. Kandy has a great interest for hockey. The people interested in the game should get themselves organize and once again spread this sport to the clubs and schools, so that there will be interest and thereby spread this sport throughout Kandy.

Cricket - In Kandy a game which had a great following, but today at club level it is dying, It was in 1863 that cricket was first played in the Kandy District and it was mainly in the Knuckles-Rangala areas and Kandy town, where Kandy Sports Club dominated the game and the venue for the first unofficial test in (Sri Lanka) Ceylon was played in 1889 in Kandy.

The Central Province Cricket Association was formed.The teams that participated were Kandy Sports Club, University Scheme SC, Kandy YMCA, Kandy Young Men's Buddhist Association SC.

The first tournament was won by Kandy Sports Club led by Francis Amerasinghe. Central Province Cricket Association hosted the first Commonwealth team in 1950, second Commonwealth team in 1951, MCC in 1952.

All India in 1956, Pakistan 1964, Hyderabad Blues 1966, State Bank of India 1967, MCC 1969, Australia 1969, MCC 1973, India 1974 and Pakistan 1976 played three matches against Board President's XI, while Joe Lister's team played a two day match against the Government Services CA at the Campus Grounds Peradeniya. All the matches from 1950 to 1976 were one day matches and few were two-day games up to gaining Test status in 1981.

The test era began in Kandy, with a three day match on 22nd February 1983 a year later Trinity grounds became Sri Lanka's third test venue and the 54th Test venue in the World. Since this game almost every team has played at this ground, till the last World Cup.

The inaugural test with Australia began in April 1983. Then came New Zealand, India, Pakistan, England, and South Africa. Before closing let's remember, the great cricket promoters and officials who served.

Today school cricket is at its best over here in Kandy. But domestic club cricket is is in a poor condition. Kandy comes alive when an International match is played.

At one time it was the second largest city for cricket next to Colombo. At one time there were tournaments for schools, all Island tournament for juniors school boys, limited over for inter-club, triangular tournament, six-a-side and double wicket. All cricket lovers ask what happened to the T/20 cricket tournament which was started last year only two games were played, Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage presented cricket gear.

When one speak about cricket, they come out saying there are no grounds. How come eight schools are playing their matches in all age groups. Eeach team has over ten games. It is the duty of the officials who hold office to make arrangements, promote the game of cricket which has a long history in Kandy.

Why did they move from Asgiriya to Pallekelle.That was to promote cricket at Palalekelle Stadium.

It was not built to play only international matches, but also to promote Kandy district cricket.