Kandy SC holds 145th AGM
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Nigel Ratwatte will lead Kandy SC in the upcoming season - File pic
The 145th Annual General Meeting of Kandy Sports Club was held at the club-house last Sunday in the presence of around a hundred members and well-wishers.
They say success breeds success. It also breeds resentment and sometimes attracts the green-eyed monster.
The Patron of the Club, Malik Samarawickrema was at pairs to explain matters and ward off criticism Kandy SC’s refusal to play their Clifford Cup game at a neutral venue in Kandy is one of the bones of contention. Bogambara was unsuitable as the ground was not in good condition.
The other venues suggested – Pallekele and Digana – did not meet with Kandy’s acceptance, as they were worried about the crowd and lack of Mileage for their sponsors.
In this connection, Malik Samarawickrema pointed out that the Kandy team travels to Colombo seven times for their League engagements. The other teams travel to Kandy just one. The Club suggested that they be given some sort of reimbursement for all the trips to Colombo. Sadly, those suggestions have fallen on deaf ears.
The Patron pointed out that winning the Clifford Cup was not the issue. They had won it as 22 occasions out of 25.
There has been a suggestion that players who spurn National duty should be suspended. Kandy wants their players to play but he says the Union must provide the proper environment for them to do so.
The Administration of the club has been handed over to a youthful set. There have been no issues with that decision looking back on last year, the Patron felt that the team did not perform to expectations in the second round. There was a suspicion that some of the seniors did not full their weight.
Although Kandy SC has done it in the last five years or more, he said it was difficult to stay on top.
Former Trinity and Sri Lanka player Sean Wijesinghe, who coached the team in the recent past, was singled out for special mention. He was an example to the others in the way he conducted himself at the club.
Kandy’s brilliance is a given. Their play at the recent club sevens, where they beat CR&FC in the final was bordering on the impeccable.
Nigel Ratwatte has been entrusted the reins for the 2019/20 season, Kavindu Perera, Tarinda Ratwatte and Sumudu Rankothge have thrown in their lot with the Kandy club.
In conclusion, Samarawickrema said that according to the SLRFU Statement of Accounts that was released, there is a shortage of 28 million. There is also some ‘doubt’ regarding a future 17 million shouldn’t the Union put their own house in order, he queries.
Office-bearers for 2019/20 | |
Patron: Malik Samarawickrema Trustees: Udaya Balasuriya, Ranjith Page, Harin Fernando President: Mahes Weerasinghe Vice Presidents: Lasantha Wijesuriya, Sanjeeva Thennekoon Secretary: Sujeeva Liyanage Treasurer: Anizal Laphir Ground Secretary: M. Rasheed Pavilion Secretary: Janaka Pathirana Secretary Social Events: Anuruddha Ranasinghe Secretary Bar and Restaurant: Upali Silva Committee: Sarath Perera, Milroy Mendis, Dr. Anura Welikala, Channa Jayatilleka, Saliya Kumara, Anton Nanayakkara, Fazil Marija, Arafath Abdeen, Asoka Jayasena, M.M. Jiffry, Sajeeva Marasinghe, Malar Selvam Rugby Committee: Lasantha Wijesuriya (Chairman), Fazil Marija, Viraj Prashantha, Kapila Silva, Nigel Ratwatte SLRFU Representative: Shyam Siddique CPRFU Representative: Milroy Mendis |