Those brilliant soccer stars from Uva
By the late nineteen forties, football in the outstations was on a strong footing with the game having a stable base in Kandy, Badulla, Trincomalee, Ratnapura, Jaffna, Galle, Bandarawela, Kurunegala, Gampola, Nawalapitiya and Batticaloa. They were the strongholds of the game and offered the elite of Colombo and gave a good run for their money whenever they met on the field. It was this juncture that the Ceylon Football Association quite prudently decided to introduce an Inter District competition to bring the best of outstation football to the open.
A football league under each district met to select their respective district league amidst a truly competitive spirit. Colombo which naturally had a large contingent of players to choose from was geographically divided into four units, namely Colombo North, Colombo South, Colombo Central Colour and Colombo Central White.
The stage was set and the atmosphere was charged with feverish excitement, keenness and commitment. Finally the first Inter District Football Tournament was kicked off in 1950. This tournament was successfully conducted till 1956. Colombo continuously won this championship except in 1952 where Badulla emerged as champion.
Football, in Sri Lanka, has its ups and downs nowadays, unlike the golden era
The tournament gathered momentum every passing year. Outstation teams were not only making it hot under the collar for the Colombo teams, but endearing themselves to thousands of fans by their unsophisticated brand of simple and subtle football.
It was the most exciting and absorbing tournament ever to be conducted in the country which so far had no equal in teams of popularity and technical excellence.
In the circumstances, the abandoning of the Inter District championship was not only an error in decision making, but reflected total ignorance of technical perceptions. Only second to Colombo in relation to football Badulla ruled supreme in the late forties to mid nineties. This lush, fresh and serene basin, surrounded by the green tea hills was the first of the outstations to promote football as early as the 1920s. From the boots of the British planting community and the local youth, the game was kept on a high pedestal through the years, seldom lowering their colours to teams from outside. Such was their strength and such was their stature in local football.
In the third year of the Inter- District Championships in 1952, Badulla wrote their names in the history of the game by winning the most hotly contested Inter District Tournament. Nineteen of the country’s 26 Districts took part in this prestigious and exciting competition. It also reflected the wide promotion of the game in the country. Nineteen of the 26 Districts playing competitive football is by itself an achievement. A true claim for No.1 slot in national ranking amongst major sports was an undisputed fact. Sadly but truthfully today, the apex has almost turned upside down – thanks to recent and present administrators , who have promoted themselves in place of the game. It was during those halcyon days when the game of football was at the zenith of popularity that the merry men of Uva shone like a beacon.
Training with application and determination, these soccerites spent the whole of the evening on the sprawling old race course grounds in the heart of Badulla town. Most of the players had their early baptism either at Dharmadutha, Al- Adhan, or Uva colleges or by dint of sheer perseverance, later turned out to be some of the country’s renowned players.
In the year 1952, the merry men were determined to knock the daylight out of other football outfits. With this uppermost in their hearts and minds, they ventured onto the field with grit and the will to yield. At the halfway stage of the competition, Badulla had driven home the message loud and clear. Several District teams were pushed out of the firing line by these skillful and fleet footed players, not merely by a whisker, but quite confidently and handsomely. By now, crowds were flocking to see the grasshoppers of Badulla in motion, and neither did they let their fans down. It was neither surprise nor a bolt from the blues to see them powering their way to the 1952 Inter District championships finals. On the other side were the Supremes of local soccer, the Colombo Central Colours – the cup holders and hot favourites. Individually, Colombo had on their list, a host of reputed national and first division players in the calibre of Phillips (Goal keeper), Earl Dias, Bagoos Saldin, K.K. Fernando, Basheer Ahmed (Capt.), T.H. Soono, J. Howell, T. Jinadasa, Andrew Fernando, H.T.N. Faleel and M.I.C Suhood. Badulla had players in the calibre of Kandasamy, A.C.M. Khan, A.C.M. Junaid (Capt.), M.I.M. Junaid, M.A. Meedin, A.C.M. Rasheed, M. Hussain, M. Laheer, Karunapala Fernando, M. Ibrahim and A. Pathmanathan. As a schoolboy I had the blessing and privilege of witnessing this cup final, no doubt paved way and encouraged me to seriously get involved in playing football which was the beginning of my soccer career and what I am today.
With the past record Colombo quite justifiably appeared impregnable – unbeatable. Yet with cool confidence and silent trust in their own strength, the Uva boys were preparing themselves for the first assault. So on Sunday 17th August 1952, at the Government Service grounds, Parsons Road, Colombo -02 (where Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel stands now) came the much awaited clash- the merry men of Uva and the cavaliers of Colombo. A strong westerly wind which blew across the field that evening was certainly not the best condition for ball control and throughout the game one witnessed the abnormal swerve of the high ball. The weather condition and the host ground no doubt was in favour of the Uva boys.
In the initial stages, both teams were looking at each other’s strength without taking undue risks. Initiatives, from both sides, were far between, probably the result of tension and prestige. Colombo made several raids on the Badulla defence with dangerous floaters sent by right winger Suhood in particular. Cunning and crafty play by Andrew Fernando left both brothers Khan and Junaid pinned into their deep end, except for some sporadic attacks in the opening half. Badulla seemed to be content with the way they were playing. However in the second half with Karunapala Fernando, Pathmanathan and Ibrahim combining beautifully, they turned the heat on Colombo. Yet it was Hussain, the left winger who scored the only goal of the match, which gave Badulla the coveted Cup in this rousing final.
Crowning themselves as District Champion was no flash in the pan. The leading clubs the YMMA and the Old Dhuthains had consistently produced vintage footballers during this period under review. In fact, Badulla rose to heights of fame and glory in the Ceylon FA Cup competitions for a number of years.
Their deeds are too numerous to elaborate, but memories of those magical merry men haunt those of us who were privileged to witness such charm and grace, particularly when football in the country was at the peek of excellence . Players of the calibre of Karunapala Fernando, A.C.M. Khan, A.C.M. Junaid, M.I.M. Laheer, A. Pathmanathan, Vendergert and still later, Pakeer Mohammad, Nimal Wickremathungha, Pala Wijesekera, Rafee, Kabeer, Anees, Fuard and Kasun Jayasuriya to name a few, excelled both at national and international level for a considerable period.
I had the privilege of handling the three brothers – Kabeer, Anees, Fuard, also Rafee and Kasun Jayasuriya when I was the National Coach. These men of Uva had a visible difference in their actions both on the field and outside.
On the field their technical excellence blended superbly with their fair approach to the game. Devoid of rough, hard and dirty play, they were methodical and artistic in their skills. Off the field suave, soft and silent, they endeared themselves to anyone who came their way. They also were sincerely friendly in their associations and gentlemanly to their fingertips. These men of Uva had contributed to the promotion and development of football, more than any other outstation, in the history of the sport.