Sports

Sports

CR&FC the team to watch this season

By Bernie Wijesekera
The Ceylon Rugby Football Club, with a cherished rugby history behind them will be the team to watch in the forthcoming season.

The team will be trained by I.R.B. Level III coach Hafeel, an old Thomian who turned out for them from 1975 to 78 and later played for the CH&FC and for the Havelocks Sports Club.

Hafeel later coached Police SC, Navy and the CH&FC Under-21 and 24 teams with much success. A keen student of the game he is a storehouse of knowledge.

After a practice session he was interviewed by The Sunday Times.

Q:You have taken over the Red Shirted team at a crucial stage when the game has hit a low ebb not only at Club level but also at the National level.

A: Yes. Not that the game is short of talent, but it needs total commitment all round. It's a mixture of youth and experience. They have played rugby at school and possess the skills.

But the players in turn must have self-belief and play for the right reasons and for all to enjoy. Play in the correct spirit. My initial task, the players have to adhere to three things - discipline, devotion and determination. I have stressed them and the rugby committee to prune down late socials.

Rugby needs 100 percent fitness. No one is indispensable. Punctuality is a must at practice sessions. They themselves must have their own game plan, including a professional approach. Club Secretary Gehan Canagaratnam is at their beck and call. He spends much of his personal time with them. According to a senior source in the committee, CR&FC Asanga Seneviratne too will handle the squad with Hafeel. Asanga was a national coach too.

Q: Is the club hierarchy interested in getting any foreigners to revamp the team.

A: Yes. There is a Kiwi forward and a Kenyan three-quarter to add spark and fire. But we are not going to depend solely on them to deliver the goods. All must play as a team to achieve the ultimate goal. It's always good to win, but not at all cost. It's the game that matters in the end for all to enjoy.

This year the team will be led by old Royalist Pavithra Fernando. He is a "man of steel", plays a hard and robust game and leads by example. Pavithra plays a terrific game in the loose and will be leading a resurgent team with the likes of Savantha de Saram, Asanga Rodrigo, a utility player, Viraj Prasantha still going strong as a hooker, Naufer Rahim, Roshan Peiris, Dilan Abeygunawardena, Roshan Perera, Kishan Musafer, Mustakq, Halimdeen, Zulki Hamid, the promising young scrum-half Shamli Nawaz, Walpola Lakmat Siriwardena Boteju, Royalist Shamil Mohamed. The Kenyan centre will provide the black magic. Dinuk Wijeratne or Rodrigo as fullback. Dinesh Wekadapola Thalagampola forms the nucleus of the side. Of course there are quite a number of schoolboys joining the scrum.

The league championship will kick-off during the third week of April.

Top