Young blood at CH to shock a few

The Colombo Hockey and Football Club (CH&FC) will be all out to prove a point when they lock horns with the defending club rugby league champions Kandy in their opener of this season’s competition on 4 November at home. 

They will be led by the youngest of the Rajapaksa brothers, Rohitha, with Samoan Laga being appointed Head Coach. They are a determined young lot who could shock a few but a top three finish is unlikely.

CH last won the league title in 2000 under Ajith Upawansa. Former Thomian and Sri Lanka Youth skipper Namal Rajapaksa is the man behind the transformation of the new look CH&FC after some disappointing rugby seasons for a leading club who once dominated local rugby. 

This club produced some outstanding rugby players during the 1990s. A few of these great players are Chandrishan Perera, Nazeem Mohamed, Hisham Abdeen, Azar Samsudeen, Graham Rauxs, Ahith Upawansa, Nishantha Dias and Nalin Dissanayake. 

This year they have Included Lee Keegal, Sajith Saranga and Sathya Ranathunge, who will add a lot of power to their outfit. Sasanka Ariyaratne and Chathura Dilshan will be a bonus for the Gymkhana Club. On the flankers side they will be strengthened with the inclusion of Yoshitha Rajapaksa. 

Two upcountry boys made a wise decision and opted to play for CH as they will find it tough to get a place in Kandy’s starting line-up. They are none other than Antonian fullback and kicking sensation Samuel Maduwantha and rock solid Trinity Centre Ryan Weerakoon.