NALAKA Goodbye is not forever?

One of Kandy Sports Club's undoubted match-winners, Nalaka Weerakkody, whose play was at times touched by sheer brilliance, announced his retirement (not tearfully!) a few weeks back.

A product of Kingswood College; and a double international at junior level, Nalaka turned out for the college rugby team from 1991 to 1995, captaining in his final year. He played in the college soccer team for three years and led the team as well. He led the Sri Lanka under 19 Soccer team in Indonesia in 1994, playing in his pet position as centre forward - Nalaka was the vice captain of the National under 19 rugby team led by Haris Omar. He was given the Asian Schools Federation award for his exploits in the two sports.

Entering the club scene in 1995, he turned out for the Kandy Youth Team which won the 'B' Division tournament. His talents demanded a longer stage and he crossed over to the CR&FC in 1996. Back in Kandy SC ranks for the 1997 season, the restless Nalaka made a return to the Longdon Place Club in 1998. Home and hearth beckoned, and from 1999 to 2007 it was the champion Kandy SC team that benefited from his handling, running and kicking skills.

Having turned out for the Sri Lankan side in both forms of the game from 1996 to 2006 and having toured so many countries, Nalaka has many a tale to relate. One of the unsavoury incidents took place when they were returning to their hotel after the social that brought the curtain down on the Dubai Sevens. However, some hot heads were cooled, sanity prevailed and the team returned unscathed.

Nalaka recalls a minor bust up with a certain Paul in the game against Victoria. Lo and behold, the same Paul turned out in the ranks of the Australian Northern territories side. "I 'll get you today" were Paul's ominous words.

On the playing side, Nalaka recalls a World Cup qualifier against Taiwan in Thailand. With time running out, Priyantha Ekanayake's Sri Lankan side was trailing their opponents 16 - 19. A penalty was awarded 50 yards out and the skipper entrusted the vital kick to the young Weerakkody whose confidence was at a high. Ekanayaka's faith in the kicker was not misplaced as the ball was arrowed by Nalaka plumb centre of the uprights.

Nalaka has scored tries against France, Wales and Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens. Sri Lanka, coached by Asanga Seneviratne, lost to Wales 21 -28 at the Dubai Sevens. Weerakkody speaks highly of Seneviratne's managerial skills and says, naturally, results flowed from them.

Starting with Kingswood's coaches Ananda Kasturiarachchi and Ex Army player Gunadasa, Nalaka has had a multitude of coaches, both local and foreign. In addition to Asanga Seneviratne, there have been well-known coaches such as C.P.P. Abeygunawardena, Tony Amith, Ana Saranapala, Ajith Abeyratne, Nimal Lewke, Laga, George Simpkin, Bruce Robertson, S.W. Chang and Johann Taylor. He says Laga was very original as far as his methods went. Playing for CR in 1996 alongside Laga, the late Joel Pera and junior Nixon (Both of Papua New Guinea) was exhilarating, CR beat Kandy that year. Jamaldeen and Asela de Silva earn Nalaka's praise for doing a good job with the whistle. "Jamaldeen was very fair and practical experience dictated a lot of his decisions."

Nalaka's kicking excellence was the result of long hours spent kicking at goal. At the start of his career, he would practice kicking for about two hours a day. Later on, it came down to about half an hour.

As for coaching, Nalaka confesses that he would like to develop the kicking ability of players in the 12 - 15 age group in Kandy Schools. Nalaka is a little worried about our rugby standards."The base is limited. We don't have enough players like China and Chinese Taipei. Even India has improved a lot". On the need for foreign players to bolster the national team, he feels that one or two should play in the sevens.

The future of Kandy SC, according to him, is good. But he bemoans the fact that Kandy's school leavers have only one club to represent. The KSC pool is restricted to thirty, and annually, only about 6 or 7 make it to that squad. If the players were to go to Colombo, they would encounter problems.

Picking his Ideal team from among the players he played with and against over a twelve year period, Nalaka opts for the following.

Props - Norman Silva, Shantha Rohana
Hooker- Viraj Prasanna,
Locks - Asoka Jayasena, Suranga Amerasinghe
Number Eight - Priyantha Ekanayake (Capt)
Flankers - Haris Omar, Alfred Hensman
Scrum Half - Sudath Sampath
Fly Half - Nalin Dissanaike
Wingers - Imti Marikkar, Sanjeewa, Jayasinghe
Centres - Graham Roux, Nilantha Lakshmiwewa
Full Back - Radhika Hettiarachchi

Nalaka intends to follow courses in TT and HR in relation to the Garment Industry and Management Training. Is his retirement decision final and unalterable? One suspect it is not so. Rugby and Kandy SC are in his blood and bones. "I will look at the situation and decide to play if I am needed."In conclusion, Nalaka emphasized that the time spent out on the field was enjoyable and certainly not wasted.