Kandy out for sweet revenge

By Shamzeer Jaleel 

Defending league champions Kandy Sports Cub will be all out to prove a point when they confront Sri Lanka Air Force in their second leg encounter tomorrow. 

Kick-off is scheduled at 4 p m. 

Kandy, in unusual fashion, lost to the Airmen in the first round – that, too, after more than three decades. But since the second round, Kandy improved in their performance and team work. Kandy currently have the best outfit, with their forwards led by Buwanka Udangamuwa, Sayuru Anthony and Yakoob Ali, all at their peak. Their three quarter line is the best in the country with almost all the back division players being winners of the national jersey, either in the shorter or longer version of the game. Asian fame Fazil Marija, Nigel Ratwatte, Dhanushka Ranjan, Richard Dharmapala along with their full back Thilina Wijesinghe all at their peak play for the Up Country club. Kandy will play minus their skipper Roshan Weeraratne, Gayan Weeraratne and Dimithri Wijettunge, all three out with injuries. They will be replaced with Sooriyabandara, Nigel and Kisho Jahan. The Air Force will heavily depend on their place kicker Iddamalgoda who has helped the forces outfit win many victories, putting over some difficultly angled penalty kicks and gaining much needed territorial advantage through his booming touch kicks that put the opposition side under pressure. 

But given their current form, there should be no difficulty for Kandy SC to pile up the points and run away with another bonus point win and look forward to their game with the Havies which will be the title decider of the league. 

Referee Aruna Rankothge