Royal waterpolo team on Singapore tour

By Leslie FERNANDO

WATERPOLO: Royal College, the undisputed waterpolo champions have been rewarded with the tour of Singapore to play a series of matches. Royal team has been invited by the Singapore National Swimming Association. The team will leave today (Sunday December 21) and will be away for a week.

Royal team will play 3 matches with the Singapore National team and 3 matches with premier clubs.

The year 2008 has been a very successful year for the Royalists. They were unbeaten throughout the season winning all matches and Clinching many trophies Ellawela Leauge, Under - 20 Championship, Public Schools Championship, Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy, Kinross Swimming and Life-Saving Club Trophy and National Championship Trophy.

The touring team will comprise 15 members from the senior team and 7 from the junior team

The master-in-charge Dharshana Hettiarachchi and the coach Aloka Prelis will accompany the team.

The team:

Bilal Hassen, Awnee Razak, Yashas Abeyratne, Rashimika Nissanga, Yahan Samarajeeva, Poorna Kankanige, Shehan Dassanayake, Sajeeva Wickremesinghe, Althaf Yakoob, Amjad Azmy, Dharshana Kuruppu, Dimuth Karunaratne, Harshaka Nissanga, Namith Madampe, Binara Sakalasooriya, Sanchitha Wickremesooriya, Shan Lakshitha, Sandeepa Deheragoda, Kanishka Fernando, Wasim Marikkabawa, Chethana Munasinghe, Kanishka Heenkenda, Musharaf Uvais.

Royal scored 172 goals in 16 matches during the season with the opponents scoring only 55 goals. The main scores for Royal College were, Skipper Bilal Hassen 48 goals, Shehan Dassanayake 31, Yahan Samarajeeva 28 and Poorna Kankanige chipped in with 21 goals.

The other players to impress were dependable goalkeeper Awnee Razak, Rashmika Nissanga who spearheaded the defence with Yashas, Althaf, Sajeeva and Amjad playing their part.

Incidentally, the under-15 team too was unbeaten, winning all trophies in the age category. They won the under - 15 Public Schools Tournament, Mahinda Liyanage Trophy and Junior Nationals.

In the last 24 years, the Royalists have shown a remarkable improvement in the game under the guidance of the coach Aloka Prelis and they have won the most Coveted trophy Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy against S. Thomas' College. They have won this encounter against their age-old rival S. Thomas' for tour consecutive years.

Royal College Waterpolo Team on tour of Singapore... Back Row " From left - Althaf Yakoob, Poorna Kankanige, Sajeeva Wickremasinghe, Bilal Hassen. Middle Row : Yashas Abeyratne, Dharshana Kuruppu, Shehan Dassanayake, Yahan Samarajeeva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Rashmika Nissanga. Squatting: from left - Amjad Azmy, Awnee Razak, Harshaka Nissanga, Namith Madampe, Binara Sakalasooriya, Sanchitha Wickremesooriya.