In the past the Sri Lanka Army took Pride of place on and off the field. It has unearthed rural youth from the village greens in order to harness hidden talent to serve the national cause to gain international recognition. At the same time it was one of the nurseries for rugby and track and [...]

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Sri Lanka Army made me a man – Bashu Musafer

By Bernie Wijesekera
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In the past the Sri Lanka Army took Pride of place on and off the field. It has unearthed rural youth from the village greens in order to harness hidden talent to serve the national cause to gain international recognition. At the same time it was one of the nurseries for rugby and track and field events.

Bashu Musafer

Old Weslyite Bashu Musafer was one of them. At present he is leading a quiet retired life in Sydney Australia. He was in Sri Lanka to celebrate a get-together of the Army rugby gold oldies since 1970 chaired by evergreen Saliya Udugama, the captain of the 1975 Clifford Cup winning team where Musafer played a key role. The luncheon get-together took place at the Gymkhana Club (CH and FC).

He said it as a great effort by Udugama, assisted by P.G. Gunawardena and K.P. Weerasooriya who got 28 of those players together to play for the Army and some of them donned the national the jersey as well. Wijeweera, after a heart surgery was also there.

“Reggie Bartholemeusz, now living in Melbourne Australia and Iqbal Musafer were my team mates. I played only in one-inter school hockey match for Wesley, thanks to the wizard of the curved stick the late T. Mylvaganam and Walter Jayasuriya, a pioneer of Sri Lanka hockey. Imagine I was picked to play for the Sri Lanka Schools at junior national level! The game was very competitive at that time and Sri Lanka Hockey was one of the best teams in Asia.”

“In 1972 the team led by S.P. de Silva, again 1975, under Saliya Udugama Haren Malwatte, P. Weerasinghe, ‘Jupana’ Jayawardena. Jupana, was an ace scrum half. I learnt a lot from Denzil Kobbekaduwa and later matched my skills against Denzil whilst playing for the Havelocks when my mentor Denzil was played for Kandy SC.

When asked for any comments about Australian sports and migrant Sri Lankans living there, Musafer said “They spend a lot on sport development at grassroot level.

The authorities are giving equal opportunities. All are treated as equals even the p1ayers at their peak retire making way for the young prospects. Interest in country is paramount, than personalities which is the cornerstone for success at national level.

“The Sri Lankans living there are living with a lot of understanding. Musafer said that the Sri Lankans domiciled in Australia have not forgotten their roots and are keen to assist the needy and help to uplift their image joined by the Australian counterparts.

They treat everyone as equals. A big welcome awaits the Sri Lanka team for the Boxing Day Test match against Australia on December 26.

Bashu Musafer left Sri Lanka on Nov. 28; his parting words were that the Army made him a man. “My parents taught me to lead a humble life, and my school Wesley at Campbell Park taught me human values – to serve humanity without distinction. “God’s Gift to you is Life, what you do with it is your Gift to God’’.

He paid, a glowing tribute to Brig. Jupana Jayawardena saying though retired he is not forgotten. Also the late Brig P.D. Ramanayake’s efforts to spread sports among the rural youth was another that Bashu remembered. Brig. JPA’s efforts are to bring about togetherness among the Golden Oldies regularly, said Bashu.




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