True sportsmanship shown by St. Anthony’s Rugby fraternity
View(s):The Rugby fraternity of St. Anthony’s College Katugastota and its supporters showed the meaning of true spirit of sportsmanship when they got together to stand by a player of a rival team in need. This fine gesture was done after a 17-year-old potential player of Science College suffered a head injury playing against St. Anthony’s College in a Singer Schools League Championship second round match on May 20.
The St. Anthony’s Rugby officials making the monetary presentation to Ayeshmantha’s mother while Science College officials look on
The player, Santhush Ayeshmantha was rushed to the Emergeny Ward of the Kandy General Hospital soon after suffering the injury, but the officials and supporters of the rival St. Anthony’s team did not wash their hands off by just doing that.
After getting to know the intensity of the injury, they formed a trust to raise funds in favour of Ayeshmantha, and within two days the Antonians managed to collect Rs. 650,000. In addition the Rugby officials and players of the Katugastota School has been visiting the rival player at the hospital to see his health progress.
During the match, even after a heavy collision Ayeshmantha had continued to play, he was taken off the field after collapsing unconscious on the ground. After rushing to the hospital it was revealed that the young player had an internal bleeding inside the head and was taken for surgery the same night.
The potential youngster, who lost his father last year, lives with his mother and the injury puts Ayeshmantha in deep quagmire. After getting to know the Science player’s background, the Antonians performed the unthinkable to help the young lad. The fine gesture had been the talking point of the local School Rugby fraternity lately. - NA