Team work, commitment key to NCC’s success
Sajith Fernando coach of the champion NCC cricket team which clinched the Premier League opined that the key to success for their team was team work and dedication.
Sajith an experienced campaigner in the domestic cricket is a person with vast experience having played 14 seasons for Colts and guiding them to the Premier League title in 2001-02 season. Later he shifted to Tamil Union and led the club to clinch the limited over title after ten years in 2009.
Sajith Fernando
Speaking to the Sunday Times Sujith said “when I took over the NCC team this season I saw that the club possessed immense talent and in my first meeting with the boys I told them that I have come here to win tournaments so let’s start working on that seriously. To say the least we clicked as a team and as days went by each understood their capabilities and from there on everything fell into place and we were able to achieve our target. But, even then we have had our ups and downs and the biggest draw back was us losing our key players in the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga and Dinesh Chandimal for most part of the season.
“In Addition we further lost some of our other top players like skipper Upul Tharanga, Angelo Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Tharindu Kaushal and Dushmantha Chameera to the Sri Lanka A team against the England Lions. But the young replacements chipped in with valuable contributions to keep us afloat till the seniors returned. During this period we engaged about four or five Under 20 players, they did their best and delivered the goods.
Fernando, spoke high of skipper Upul Tharanga saying he was one of the best captains he has seen in recent times. Upul handled the team in a very professional way which resulted in him getting the maximum support of the other players.
Fernando added “of course special mention should be made of Jehan Mubarak who took the batting responsibilities and had the honour of making over 1000 runs which included six tons inclusive of an unbeaten 222 against Badureliya SC. Angelo Perera was another batsman who made a double century — making a 244 against Air Force but unfortunately he was able to play only seven matches. One player who grabbed the opportunity he got was Pawan Wickramasinghe who is just 20 years old. He played like an experienced player and in the eight matches he scored nearly 600 runs which included two tons and four fifties. 
Besides Pawan, Farveez Maharoof, skipper Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella were the others who made contributions.
The bowling was spearheaded by spinners Tharindu Kaushal and Sohan Boralessa along with Dushmantha Chameera and Chaminda Vidanapathirana.
Skipper Upul Tharanga said “when we started the season I promised the club that I will win at least one major championship this year as it was the clubs 125th anniversary. I told the players that we must make this a memorable year for NCC after all what the club has done for us. We missed one title by a whisker when we ended up as runner up in the limited over tournament.
“Today I am very happy that we have been able to achieve what we planned by winning the Premier League which is the major domestic tournament of Sri Lanka Cricket.”
Tharanga further added that they had some great individual performances during the tournament but overall it was great team work where all made their contributions and put in their effort which helped us to come out on top and paid a glowing tribute to coach Sajith Fernando.
Marlon Fernandopulle, secretary of NCC opined that as a major cricket playing club in the island our objective is to provide opportunities for young cricketers to showcase their talents and be nursery to SLC. Today we can take pride that these objectives have been fulfilled.
We would also like to mention that some of the players even today have been brought up and supported by the club providing them with all necessities to give them a solid mind to concentrate on the game.
Soon after the NCC won the championship the club felicitated the players and hosted the team for a dinner at the club premises on Wednesday evening and made generous cash donations.
Gracing the occasion was former Sri Lanka captain and NCC captain Hashan Tillakaratne under whose guidance that NCC won the Premier league title 13 years ago in 2000-01 season and Dinesh Chandimal who had arrived in Sri Lanka the previous day to congratulate the team for the splendid performance.