Raja was gentle, kind-hearted and cheerful - Appreciation

By Aubrey Kuruppu

Raja Ibrahim

Forty five is the prime of life and certainly not an age to pass away. However, death laid its icy hand on former Kingswood and Kandy SC rugger player Raja Ibrahim at precise by this age.

The name Ibrahim is a household name in Kandy. Many members of this family have excelled in rugby for their alma mater Kingwood and Kandy SC. Some have even proceeded to gain national honours. Raja’s brother Roy played for the Air Force and is now domiciled in Australia. Ronnie, who coached Kingswood in their years of glory, is now the coach of the Mt. Lavinia Thomians. The next sibling Rinnie, who turned out for the CR and FC, met with a tragic death in Cyprus. The youngest, Nilufer represented the country on many occasions. He coached the Rajans last season but has now accepted the job of coaching Kingswood, his old school.

The Ibrahims are cousins of national players Anjad Buksh and Facil Marija. The family is quite remarkable and is very sports conscious. The late Raja worked for the United Nations as a Fleet Supervisor and was based in Trincomalee. Gentle, kind-hearted and cheerful Raja had friends in abundance. They are the pioneer for his loss. The tremendous crowd that gathered, at short notice, for his funeral is testimony to the man he was.