Pettah United – a modest football club that reached great heights
Pettah United had a winning outfit for a long stint
In these days when local club football values and standards have declined and there is so much of bluff and bluster passing off as real skills and performances, it is refreshing to call the high standards achieved two decades ago.
With the dormant of famous clubs like Saunders, Victory, Ratnam, Eleven Youngsters, Black square, York, Sunny mount Old Bens, Pettah United , Colpetty United to name a few emphasizes the stark deference.
If I am exactly correct, our football crazy crowd got the last opportunity to witness a thrilling and nail biting cup final was in 1995 between Ratnam SC vs Pettah United at the Bristol League First Division Cup Final played in the Sugathadasa Stadium on a Saturday night, 17th June 1995.
I had the Privilege of coaching Pettah United SC during the period from in 1985 and from 1993 to 1995.
As a young coach without a touch of support nor recognition in a honorary capacity brought the Pettah United club from the lowest division to the highest division.
The formation of Pettah United SC in 1979 was the brain child of those senior players namely T.N. Sudar (Bony) , S.O.K. Yahiya(Omar) and Nalinda(now in USA) who mooted the idea to that soccer crazy P.S.A. Rafeek, the Chief Executive of the club who spend his time, energy and wealth for the development of the club and its players.
As a coach in 1985, I helped him to lift the Yaseen Cup beating Maligawatte Youth 7-3 with young upcoming players like – Omar Yahiya , Sudar (Bony), Majood, Rama, Faris, Aslam , Pathmanathan , Francis , Munas Safeek (Captain) Jamion, Ifthika, T. Hajireen, Jayathilake and Hewawasam.
In this tournament we got a walkover from Old Bens, beat Fatha FC 7-0, Black Square 3-1, Ratnam 4-1 and outclassed Maligawatte Youth in the final 7-3.
After winning the Yaseen Cup Pettah United experience a doom period in 1985. Due to the personal grudge and jealousy, the top officially of the City Football League had with me deprived the club from playing in the Mayor’s Cup – an “A” division tournament – However they allowed Maligawatte Youths SC who lost to us in the Yaseen Cup Final 7-3 to play in the Major’s cup, thus ruining an upcoming club and its players future.
The never say die Rafeek once again re-organized the club in 1991 with the senior players in the calibre of Omar, Bony, Aslam with talented young players like T.N. Bagoos , T.S. Faleel , Rizwan Shabdeen, M. Rizwan, Sadad, Anas, Anil , Nassar, Nelson , Iliyas to name a few and once again approached me to handle the team, which I agreed without any hesitation or reservation.
Since most of the players live in the environs of Slave Island practices were held at the City League grounds and on the Galle Face Green Stretches.
After the re-organisation of the club we decided to play in the tournaments conducted by the Colombo Football League.
Thanks to the Colombo League Officials G.A.K Abeysekera and Jothi Mallawarachchi for recommending us to play in the Bristol League tournament conducted by the FFSL. Top giants namely Anandarajah, Manilal Fernando , Chrysantha Perera to name a few gave maximum support to this modest club to reach division three to division one, which stood against all odds to win the coveted Bristol League Division one championship.
Pettah United was a complete side possessed stamina, speed, strength and above all discipline and confidence. It also created a unique tournament record by entering the division one, two and three winning all three in debut.
The team also had one more Feather added to their caps when they were awarded with the fair play Trophy in the tournament as well.
From victory on to victory – was the maxim that Pettah United followed in the Bristol League division one tournament which kept their unbeaten record intact till they lifted the champion trophy was the players 100 % discipline on and off the field and worked hard at training with dedication and devotion.
In the group matches they beat Saunders SC (3-0) , Maligawatte Youth SC (2-0) Sunny Mount SC (2-1), Super Beach SC Kalutara (2-0), Army Bullets SC(1-0) , Police SC(2-1) Colpetty United SC(5-2), Red Diamond SC Kandy (3-0) and Pelicans SC Kurunegala (8-1).
In the semi-final they beat Cooray SC (2-1) to enter the final against Ratnam SC with an unbeaten record even without a draw — with ten wins in-a-row. In eleven matches played in the tournament matches they scored 32 goals and conceded only 7 goals against.
T.N. Bagoos the skipper of the Pettah team was a dependable midfielder who excelled in almost all the league round matches. They had the best defence line in the competition. Anil Perera (Goalkeeper) M.H.M. Anas, M. Rizan, M. Sadad, , J. N. Alexander and T.S. Faleel. Their strikers comprised T.N. Sudar, Omar Yahiya, Rizwan Shabdeen and Hameed Nazar.
Pettah United in 1993 won the Bristol League division three and the next year they bagged the division two title and on the 17th of June 1995 the division one title. Indeed a noteworthy performance.
The Pettah United team who entered the 1st division Cup Final for the first time came out as favourites on paper. However the Ratnam outfit with six national caps was a major force to be reckoned with. They beat their main rivals Saunders 2-1 in the semi-final to clear the biggest hurdle to enter the final.
Since both teams were unbeaten the final was poised for a thrilling finish. So on Saturday night, 17th June 1995, at the Sugathadasa Stadium came the much awaited clash between Pettah United and the Ratnam.
The grand final however started off on a slow and dull note both teams were looking at each other strength without taking undue risks.
Initiatives, from both sides were far between, probably the result of tension and prestige, although many expected “fireworks” from the word go. As the game progressed the crazy soccer crowd saw intelligent tactical play by both teams.
The tough and hard working defenders of Pettah SC skipper T.N. Bagoos , J.N. Alexander, M. Rizwan , M.H.M. Anas , T.S. Faleel , M. Sadad including the agile goalkeeper Anil Perera frustrated the experienced Ratnam SC, striker M. Amanulla, his brother M.F. Rahuman and Ruwan Chandana. These three speedy forwards failed to break the thick defensive blanket of Pettah United SC.
Pettah United struck the opener in the 24th minute when Omar Yahiya tapped the ball home after M. Rizwan rushed in quickly to head the ball towards the danger zone of a corner kick taken by Rizwan Shabdeen.
The winners maintained the one nil lead till the break. Shortly after the break Pettah United strikers caused havoc in the Ratnam SC area and Rizwan Shabdeen narrowly missed beating an advancing keeper Lalith Weerasinghe.
At the other end Ruwan Chandana hit a low shot and Pettah SC custodian did well to go on his knees and save it,
In the 72nd minute the nippy striker Rizwan Shabdeen sealed the victory for his side with a spectacular goal, taking advantage of a missed tackle by defender Saman Kumara and M.H. Rumy powered a 35 metres drive to beat the keeper all end up.
For Ratnam SC there were several chances of scoring in the second half but it was not their day. They were to be just satisfied with the single goal scored.
Pettah United made it a happy debut in front a very large crowd at the Sugathadasa stadium by lifting the Prestigious Bristol League division first title over Ratnam SC by 2 goals to 1.
In my 35 years of coaching career, I have trained many schools, clubs, leagues including the Armed Forces and National teams of which most of them entered the cup finals. Without a shade of doubt, I must confess that Pettah United SC was the best disciplned team, I have handled.
These Pettah SC boys 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 methodically and artistic in the skills. Off the field suave, soft and silent, they endeared themselves with discipline of anyone who came their way. These qualities not only helped me, also helped them too, to win the prestigious Bristol League Cup.