Good backing by sponsors keep Kandy Sports Club moving forwards

By Hafiz MARIKAR

RUGBY: In 1992 Kandy Sports Club were delighted to have reached the top in rugby after 42 years in the game when under the captaincy of Maurice Joachim the club won the prestigious Clifford Cup. Until 1992 Kandy SC was pretty bare although in 1954, 1955, 1969 and 1978 they entered the Cup final, but failed to succeed for various reasons.

The first three cup finals were against CR & FC and the fourth vs Havelock SC. The home team Kandy, suffered from a chronic shortage of quality players, but the club made a brave effort to put together a competitive side which proved to reach the top by enjoying a good season, wining the Clifford Cup knockout tournament for the first time, and being placed number two in the League tournament and the R. Premadasa knockout tournament. In an attempt to select the best side, Kandy SC entered two sides (KSC 'A' & Lions) in the League tournament.

Kandy Sports Club has a long history in the game of rugby. However, it was in the last twenty years that they have been winning all the silverware offered by the Rugby Union.

Kandy SC was founded in 1874 by a group of pioneer coffee planters. Ironically, the initial residence of the club was the Bogambara grounds and remained thus until it was acquired for military purposes when the 2nd World War broke out in 1939. During those years a building was erected which turned out to be the club premises. During this period to time the club was named as the Kandy Athletic, Boating, Cricket, Football and Dancing Club.

The name to Kandy Sports Club was changed in a few years and their activities were manifold - Football, Cricket, Rugger, Hockey, Athletics and Polo. Thereafter, the club authorities vacated the building that was taken for the use of the Kandy Hospital Doctor's quarters. In 1949, the garbage dumping land at Nittawella was leased to Kandy Sports club by the Kandy Municipal Council.

Nittawella permanent residence

The shift to Nittawella was no easy task, but it was made possible and Nittawella became the permanent residence of the Kandy Sports Club. Some of the people who were behind this move were Chandra Wijenayake, Col. Stanley Ratwatte and some good officers of the Ceylon Tobacco Company Leaf Division.

Kandy Sports Club - Nittawella's rise coincides with the rise of Kandy Sports Club as the super power of local rugby. From being a team that merely made up to numbers in the 50s through to the 80s. The club had scooped just about everything on the prize table. If the giant in Kandy Sports Club had not awakened, in the early 1990s the Nittawella landscape might well have remained that old snap shot.

The transformation of Kandy Sports Club into a perennially champion outfit, is a threadbare story. Suffice to say it was initiated by a decision of a few players to quit the CR & FC and move to Kandy SC in 1992. This move gave Kandy the push to start winning trophies.

It was a great rise in rugby in the hill country where not only the club, but all schools raised their standards and today there are teams to recognised as the best teams. Then if you evaluate the club players involved in rugby in the Western Province, most of the best players are from the Kandy schools who have moved to Colombo, for employment.

Kandy Sports Club is a major source and the game thrives on the fierce competition between Kandy and its foremost opponents CR & FC, CH & FC, Havelocks, Navy, Air Force, Army, Police. In fact, the members of the current Sri Lanka national squad has over 12 players from Kandy Sports Club.

Today, Kandy players are named as the glamour boys of the local club rugby scene and are well on their way for another triple this year. Kandy beat Havelock SC in their opening game by 18 points to 13 points in a played encounter with the highest rugby spirit. Then Kandy beat CH & FC - 43 points to 18 points and Army SC by 51 points to 05 points. Today (Sunday) they face a rejuvenated Police team at Police Park, Colombo.

Kandy SC. fortunate

Nothing quite as fortunate as this has ever happened to Kandy SC. They have brought fame to the club by their performances. They have won the League title 16 times out of 19, and have won the triple championship too on many occasions. It has been the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and discipline have been the contributing factors to their fine showing.

knowledgable players

Kandy Sports Club has many knowledgable players most of them who have represented the national team. The key players are play-maker Fail Mariah, Pradeep Liyanage, Senaka Bandara, Veteran Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Buddhika Thalagampola the current captain in place of Saliya Kumara, Gayan Weeraratne, Roshan Weeraratne, Darshan Etipola, Mohamed Jabar, Kishor Jehan, Achala Perera, Sajith Saranga, Aravinda Udangawa, Sashika Jayawardena, Prasad Chathuranga, Sean Wijesinghe, to name a few.

Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte the President, and his able committee are pleased over the happenings at Nittawella. Life Member and Trustee Malik Samarawickrema member of the club and former President SLRFU with a successful record being the best administrator in any field, has hugely contributed towards the Kandy Sports Club both financially and advice since 1992.

The players are under the guidance of coach Johan Taylor, a South African level 3 coach from Ireland. He has been with the team since 2007 with a record of being Champions over the last 4 years, The team has got support from the Rugby Chairman - Lasantha Wijesuriya, team manager Kapila Silva, Physio Sanjeewa Boby Perera and rugby team attend A.S. Kumar.

A big thank you to Singer Sri Lanka who are the sponsors of Kandy Sports Club for many years. It was none other than Hemaka Amarasuirya who is the man behind the scene and also newcomers Etisalat.