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Sports

Kandy stay on top
Retains the prestigious Caltex 'A' league rugby championship for 2002
By Bernie Wijesekera
Nothing is impossible, if one works hard and makes a personal sacrifice, said Kandy SC skipper Pradeep Basnayake, after the team retained the prestigious Caltex 'A' league championship for 2002.

Dusky Pradeep, who led from the front, was interviewed by The Sunday Times. No doubt it was a gruelling season and no let up or a rest day even after a game, played in Colombo. But back to training and all had to adhere to this formula. Coach Chandana Abeygunawardena's prime objective was fitness. Everyone had to strictly follow it. No nonsense with him, nor he allows outsiders to interfere with his game plan.

That means the players in the squad had to follow four things above all else. Structure, self belief, discipline and determination. This may be CP's first lesson to the players. Yes.

His tough attitude helped the players immensely. Then they know how to win. This was proved during the season which in turn helped Kandy to retain the title. Kandy SC only club in the outstations was struggling to play in the big league in early '90's.

But ardent rugby supporter, old Royalist and former President of the Rugby Union, Malik Samarawickrema made a punt ahead to offer his support with men and material. Today the Nittawela ground looks a mini-Twickenham for all to enjoy. In its wake shattered the stranglehold of the Colombo clubs.

Do you agree for the game to raise its levels, the game should be more competitive. Just Kandy winning trophies is not going to develop or help the game at national level. Other clubs, too must work hard to raise their heads and be above water. Today there is mass participation with several schools taking to the scrum. There should be a proper structure.

The Central Province Rugby Union is helping them. Presently Kandy schools are in the forefront, said Basnayake. Any comments about the defeat you suffered against CR&FC in the second-leg to tarnish KSC's unbeaten tag. They played well and they deserve to win. No excuses. The Red Shirts are very competitive. It's good for the game. They gave us a few hiccups in the first-leg, too. No crowd means no rugby. It's always better to play before a crowd.

It inspires the players, too. Kandy's success attributes to crowd support, said Pradeep. Now that I have captained and achieved my objective, I will pave the way for others to take over. Give them my unstinted support. As long as I am physically fit I'll be in the scrum. When I know my time has come I will bow out gracefully.

Rugby be it at Trinity or KSC has helped me to go places. It has taught me to face ups and downs in life. All this success on and off the field is temporary and it will be forgotten as times go by. It's just a passing flame, said Basnayake.

I will give something back to the game especially to help a less affluent school uplift their image in this beautiful sport. As captain I have instilled to my teammates to play it hard and clean at all times and maintain its spirit. They have adhered to it. I say a "Big Thank You" for all of them, concluded Basnayake.

For Kandy, danger signals ahead!
Kandy vs CR&FC (CR&FC won 31-17)
Quentin Israel, that great coach who moulded Trinity into a fine outfit for many years, told me, "Bryan your articles to the press are not what I expected. Rather tame," he said. I replied, "You are quite right, Quentin. But look at the standard of rugby and what do you see? Tame rugby. But I assure you the CR/Kandy game gave me a lot of hope." I said that the CR/Kandy game would prove whether Kandy are invincible.

Then last week I said that Kandy could be vulnerable under pressure and this is just what happened. CR have just reached almost "peak" performance. Kandy, sans certain players cannot hold on to this excuse of injuries. They fielded their best available team and lost to CR, being outplayed in many departments. Maybe it was one of their "off-days". For CR, congratulations to Tony Amit and his team - "Keep up the good work". For Kandy, danger signals ahead! Army and Police are much improved and I believe some Fijian Nationals will be turning out for the CH&FC and the Havelocks for the Knock-Out tournaments.

Army vs CH&FC (Army won 33-20)
The Army are shaping up well for the Knock-Out Tournament. National Poolists Karunaratne, Knowlton of the Army and Sameera Wijesinghe, Milinda Jayasinghe of the CH performed well.

Police vs Havelocks (Police won 26-8)
Police are playing well. Congratulations to Marso - the Police coach. He knows his team's weaknesses and strengths and the weaknesses of the opposition. He therefore plans his strategy accordingly. He takes match-by-match very seriously.

For the Havelocks, as Coach Y.C. Chang lamented, "Players must change their attitude towards getting fit - it is something personal and is left entirely to a player. On paper the Havelocks possess fine players. Let's hope they produce an improved game in the Knock-Out Tournaments.

Air Force vs Galle RFC
Congratulations to both teams. The Air Force for their win, but also to Galle RFC who played an exciting game. According to Kumar Abeywardene, the stalwart of Galle rugby, he was very happy with the result. He said, "Good refereeing and good sportsmanship." He complained that referees who are appointed for some games invariably do not turn up. After all Galle RFC are in the 'A' Division but sometimes we have to find "C" Division referees! SLRFU please take note.

NOTE: When such problems crop up the answer is to SOLVE THEM. Let us understand the problem - not attack the complainant. Kumar, I hope the Referees Society will take note.

National rugby trials
Of 68 players in the National Pool, I was disappointed to find only 45 participating while 12 key players although present, excused themselves claiming injury. A Doctor was at hand who examined all these players - some of whom he claimed, could have played! Those absent from Trials without notice have not been considered. The National Selectors have chosen a 38-member pool for training.

Testing time for Amrith
The Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship, which will be staged from September 2 to 8, will draw top players from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The main event in the golfing calendar where the cream of the local golfers will tee off - the best from the country - Tissa Chandradasa, Anura Rohana and Lalith Kumara will be among them.

Fifteen-year-old Amrith de Soysa, recently participated in the British Junior Golf Championship in Scotland recently, at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club did well to tie for the eighth position with scores of 73 and 74 gross.

Playing in difficult conditions (windy, rainy and cold), quite unaccustomed to the lad unlike here. The fledgling, was interviewed by The Sunday Times in the ongoing RCGC (Amateur) championship. He won the second round match and defeated Rathavan De Livera in the quarters. In the semi-finals meets one of Sri Lanka's top golfers Alain Gyi. (Sat. Aug.24). The finals on Sunday (Aug. 25) What's your future. Its a slippery climb but I must show consistency and work hard to achieve my ultimate goal.

Of course I want to be a professional golfer and do proud for the country. Not like playing in sunny conditions in Sri Lanka, but the real test is one has to tee off in uninviting weather.

This was a real test for me in the last British Junior Championship in Scotland, where 82 golfers teed off. Though I am 15 years old, I represented Sri Lanka in this Under-17 prestigious tournament. Comparing to me they were big made and physically strong. Despite playing in shivering conditions, I answered with my grit and determination. I learnt much and its an experience, to me.

Playing in the big league - Open Amateur championship (next month) with the cream of the golfers from the SAF region is a real test for you - an experience for further development of skills. I may not come on top against seasoned campaigners but will strive to give of my best, Amrith said.

My coach was Pheroze Billimoria, at grassroots level. He was my guiding light and took a personal interest on and off the greens. You have not forgotten the ones who helped you at the start. -BW

Fitness, is a 'must'
Fitness is a "must" for all the athletes if they are to take part in any international contest in the future. No one will be picked on past performances, said Ranjith Alwis, the Chairman of the AAA Selection Committee to The Sunday Times. Apparently some athletes with the connivance of their respective coaches are having their own way they refrain from taking part in trials.

Sriyani Kulawansa, who came second in the women's hurdles at the recent 14th Asian Track Meet held here. She said she was mentally upset for not being selected for the women's 4x100m. relay. This has nothing to do with her failure to win the "Gold" in women's 100m. hurdles. Sriyani, Damayanthi Dharsha and Pradeepa Herath refused to take part in the trial run. While to the credit of Susanthika Jayasinghe and all the male athletes ran in the trials to gain selection, Alwis said.

Dharsha came a poor eighth in the C'Wealth Games in the 400m. Interested parties are interfering with the selections (including coaches) apparently with the powers that be to get their athletes to the national team. They hardly watch a meet or look into their performances. This sort of influence in any discipline is not going to develop the sport. What about those poor athletes who are committed to the sport. Leave the selection panel alone and allow them to act independently.

In future no one will be considered to represent the country, merely because he or she has won a national title at a local meet. For consideration they have to come up the required international standards. It was evident that some of the participants not only put themselves to shame, but also tarnished the country's image as a result. In future the panel is not going to dance to the whims and fancies of interested parties when it comes to selection at national levels.

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