Gamini - player and coach par excellence

by Hafiz Marikar

Rugby Star of yesteryear - Gamini A Fernando was one of the finest forwards we have seen in the rugby field. He has the unique achievement of being a member of a Clifford Cup winning team on his debut in club rugby, in his first year as the captain and later as coach of his favourite club Havelock Sports Club.

Gamini was a top class player, coach, referee and rugby administrator, rugby lover and promoter. Known in the rugby circle as Gama, was a outstanding flanker during his paying days, he also has the rare distinction of having handled the whistle in the match between the French University and London RF team in 1979, the first time two Europeans teams played in Sri Lanka. He is a product of Trinity College, where he excelled in rugger and cricket. He played for Trinity in 1958 under Ken de Joodt and 1959 under Denzil Kobbekaduwa, his team-mates were M. Talwatte, A.R.M. Azain, E.D.K. Roles, and P.A. Bultjens Jnr., S. Janikram, Ken Murray, Jayantissa Ratwatte, T.P. Hermon, Jayantha Jayawardene, S.C. de Silva, T.N. Chunchi, R. Madena, R.W. Madugalle and R.R. Samarakoon. That is the year Royal won the first leg of the Bradby 5-0 and the Trinity won the second leg 6-0. The first leg was refereed by Mahesh Rodrigo and the second by V.S. de Livera.

In 1956 when Trinity introduced under-17 rugger, he was in that first team and also played in the following year (1957). As a second row forward he gave of his best for the senior team. He won his rugby colours in 1959. During Gama's school days only five schools played the game and the standards were high. He was also a fine cricketer, and played along with P.S. Jayasinghe, C.V.I. Kodithuwakku, S.M. Weerasinghe. He was a fluent stroke maker and made a solid 61 against Zahira College in 1960, in which he had seven well timed hits to the fence and two over it.

In 1961 he went down to Colombo, along with his friend Y.C. Chang, and both turned out for Havelock Sports Club. He went on to play for his favourite Club Havelock Sports Club as flank forward and led the club in 1967 and prematurely hung his boots in 1969. But his good friend Chang had to move from Park Club, after he took over planting.

Gama represented the Low Country and All Ceylon in the All India tournament in 1966 and 1967 and also played for the country against the English Defence Services team. But during his playing days, visits by international sides were few and far between. Gama, was a fine team man a fearless tackler and a gentleman player. As a coach he always taught the players to enjoy themselves and play good, clean hard rugger.

He coached his favourite club Havelock Sports Club and was helping Police SC with his expertise in 1980 on an invitation from Anton Benedict. He was the national coach in 1978 the year Irwin Howie led the country and also in 1979. He always instilled the principle that if the players are in good spirit after a match and could say I had a good game in the field that should should make everyone happy in good spiritable.

During his coaching days he had always received good encouragement from the players.

His biggest disappointment was in 1969, where he had to make up his mind. Gama was selected to play in the All India tournament, but he was disqualified subsequently on medical grounds, though the Rugby Union Doctor L.P.D. Gunawardene passed him fit.

The irony of it all was that they took a hooker as his replacement. That shook him down badly. 'Gama' has helped many ruggerites. In the 1970's Kandy Sports Club players coming down to Colombo for trials, Gama use to help them by providing accommodation for them in Colombo. One such person was Kandy SC's Nimal Malagamuwa.

After his playing days, he took up refereeing. He has blown in several games at school and club level. And in 1975 was his first cup final. He is one of the life members and patrons at Havelock Sports Club and also one time President, and headed the SLRFU in 1995/96.

He still gives his fullest support to his club, Havelock Sports Club and could be seen at matches and any occasion hosted by the club.