Nilufer’s enthusiasm to drive Rajan rugby to greater heights

Alarmed that the performance of the Dharmaraja rugger team had fallen far short of expectations, the old Rajans Rugby Football Association, in tandem with the principal Mr. SM Keerthiratne, mapped out a strategy to improve standards post haste.

As a first step, they engaged the services of a former national captain Asoka Jayasena who left after just six months in the job to take up foreign employment.

Nilufer Ibrahim, who played for Kingswood from 1993 to 1996 as scrum half and fly half, is the current coach of the Rajans. He started his club rugby with Kandy Youth but from 1997 he has been turning out for the premier Kandy SC team. Representing Sri Lanka from 1998 to 2003, Nilufer played in the South Africa Sevens (2003), the Dubai Sevens (2002) and the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens in 1999, 2000 an 2001. He also participated in the Asian Games in Thailand (1998) and in 2002 in South Korea. He was adjudged the player of the tournament at a quadrangular in Malaysia. His rugby travels have also taken him to Singapore and Australia.

His 15-a-side captains were Asoka Jayasena, Viraj Prasanna, Pradeep Basnayake and Haris Omar. In Sevens, he played under Indrajith Bandaranaike and Sanjeeva Jayasinghe. Nilufer laments the fact that he was rushed into the job two weeks before the first game.

The back division, he feels, has much more potential than the pack, He picks out prop Dilanga Gunatilleke and Roshan Gunatunga as examples of big forwards who are also very mobile. Akila Hettiarachchi, the Sri Lanka under-19 full back, now occupies the pivotal fly half’s berth. Third year player Chamara Nawalage leads the team.

Last season, the Rajans had a solitary win over Science College, a draw against St. Joseph’s and defeats at the hands of Vidyartha, Isipathana, Kingswood and Royal. In the current season, they have a clean slate having beaten Prince of Wales 24-0, Zahira 41-15, St. Sylvester’s 36-12 and Carey 41-5.

Nilufer has precious little coaching experience. It being limited to helping brother Ronnie with the Kingswood Juniors. However with his drive and enthusiasm, Rajan rugby will certainly look up.

The Dharmaraja pool consists of: Props – Dilanga Gunatilleke, Dinesh Wijayaratne, Kasun Rajapakse, Hookers – Senarath Bandara, M. Sajith, Locks – Lahiru Alahakoon, Nuwan Karunaratne, Rasika Ratnayake, Lahiru Sellapperuma, Flankers – Roshan Gunatunga, Prasad Galapitiya, Dharshana Madawala, Number 8 – Isuru Madannayake, Scrum Halves – Thanushka Mahawatte, Indika Wickremanayake, Fly Halves – Chamara Nawalage (Capt), Akila Hettiarachchi, Wingers – Kasun Gunasekera, Nidos Wijesuriya, Lasantha Wickremaarachchi, Centres – Malinga Godigamuwa, Asoka Weerasekera, Thilina Dharmasiri, Full Backs - Akila Hettiarchchi, Full Back – Dharshana Ettipola.