Fazil Marija heads Kandy coaching unit

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Kingswood, Kandy SC and Sri Lanka XV’s, Sevens sensation and one of the rare Asian Barbarians representative from Sri Lanka, Fazil Marija will be the Head Coach of the League Champions, Kandy Sports Club for 2019/2020. His official appointment will be made at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Club which will take place shortly.Fazil for his good work was appointed as the three quarter coach of the national XV a side outfit which toured Malaysia and in Taipei currently. He is tipped to take over the Sevens coaching as well for the country at the Asian Sevens 2019.Fazil played for Kingswood College and Kandy Sports Club as a player, captain and coach. He represented his school in all age groups while leading the triple champions outfit from Randles Hill School in his last year at Under 19 level. He first represented Sri Lanka in the year 2000 at the Junior Rugby Asiad. He made his XV a side debut playing for the national team against the visiting Hong Kong outfit at Nittawela in 2003.Never crossing over to any club despite of his heavy demand for his quality playing was very loyal towards Kandy. He represented Kandy for more than a decade while leading the XV’s and sevens national outfit taking them to a top number 3 position under his able leadership.

Fazil took Sri Lanka for a Shield win at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens at Glasgow, Scotland. He made his debut at Club rugby for Kandy SC at the Clifford Cup knockouts. He was Assistant Coach to Sean Wijesinghe at Kandy SC last year. With Sean migrating to Canada this position fell vacant. Fazil will have former Isipathana and CR & FC player, Viraj Prasanna as the forwards coach for the coming rugby season plus his school mate Nalaka Weerakody as the kicking coach.