Ronny turns Air Force into threatening outfit

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Kingswood, Police and Sri Lanka Fifteens and Indian rugby coach Ronny Ibrahim has whipped Sri Lanka Air Force into good shape this season. 

The club played their first game against CR yesterday. Sri Lanka Air Force got into top division rugby back in 1961. After a couple of inconsistent performances they got demoted and earned a promotion 12 years later. During the 1980s Air Force produced some outstanding players who went on to represent the country. They are Tikiri Marambe, Nalin de Silva, Harsha Fernando, Lofty Perera, Rex Anthony, Tony Wimalasuriya and Razali Noordeen. They won the 1986 Clifford Cup under Lakshman Caldera.

Air Force SC won the plate championship for three consecutive years in 1998, 1999 and 2000. They claimed the club Sevens in 2006, 2008 and 2010. In 2010 former Trinity, Sri Lanka Sevens and Fifteens player and current High Performance Director Inthi Marikar, who was their Head Coach, almost led them past Kandy in a thrilling final. They went down in the end by a mere three points. Six years later they humbled Kandy at home.

Air Force are led by prop forward Pushpakumara Samarahewa. The inclusion of former Vidyartha and Police player Radeesha Seneviratne is a big bonus for the Ratmalana outfit. They also have a very good placekicker in Iddamalgoda in their ranks.

Ibrahim has turned many ordinary outfits into winning units. He coached the Sri Lanka Under-19, senior team, Indian rugby outfit, Havelocks and Navy. He is an unsung hero of Sri Lankan rugby.

Havies a major threat to Kandy’s championship

Havelocks Sports Club will be a major threat to Kandy’s efforts to defend their league title, with their head coach Sanath Martis probably the most knowledgeable coach in the country, a fact which is not given enough recognition. They started the season with an outstanding 36-0 win over the cops.

They have some outstanding players in their ranks. The park club will miss the services of national Sevens skipper Muthuthanthri, who is away in New Zealand on a training program and will join the team in the early portion of the second round. Kevin Dixon, Dulaj Perera, Sharo Fernando and Sandun Herath all learnt their basics from Martis and will be happy to see their school coach back at the park club. Martis will badly miss Ranjan, who crossed over to Kandy last season, but will have another Sri Lankan Sevens player in Nishon Perera. Led by former Joes player Jason Melder, they will be a close second to Kandy this season and are fortunate to have Isipathana, CR&FC and Police fullback Reza Mubarak in their ranks.