Kandy SC secure double after two years

Monday, 30 March 2015 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel Kandy SC under dynamic Sean Wijesinghe became the Inter Club league and Clifford Cup champions after a lapse of two years. Kandy during the last two years ended in the top three and went through a tough time on and off the field which was beyond their control. Last weekend they stamped their class in a record Clifford Cup Final win over Police SC by 77/7. This is the oldest cup on offer in the country, which is more than 100 years being started in 1911.

During the Inter club season Kandy SC had a shock defeat at the hands of Army SC and drew a game against CR&FC after leading most part of the game. These two were shock for Kandy SC and their supporters but they lived up to their expected top standards when they defeated all clubs till the final game. Coming to the Clifford Cup Knock out tournament Kandy SC after getting a bye in the quarter final defeated CR&FC 22/7 before demolishing the ‘Cops’ in a one-sided affair winning by 77/7. Kandy SC was backed by its rugby promoter, former Royal College scrum Half Malik Samarawickrema. The club revamped after 1992, never let down by their Rugby Committee and supporters who were in numbers for any games played even in Colombo. Also Kandy SC is the only club to have such a huge following wherever they play. One more reason could be that Kandy is the only outstation rugby playing club and most of the Kandy born working crowd settled down in Colombo. Kandy was also fortunate enough to have some solid seniors behind the up-country club for number of years. Asian top class player FazilMarija, GayanWeeraratne, RoshanWeeraratne, Lavanga Perera, Anuruddha Wilwara, Nigel Ratwatte Kishore Jahn, skipper Sean Wijesinghe, ShashikaJayawardena along with their overseas player Chris Colette were class acts. In fact Chris was omnipresent being outstanding in attack as well in defence. The only thing that went wrong for Kandy was that their selection of overseas players did not go correct, which is sure to be amended in the coming season. Three of their overseas players were sent back due to poor performance in field. The other three overseas players, Kenyan Oscar Ouma, South African Marcel and Tongan Koto Pongi, lived up to the expected standard. Their Coach, South African born Johan Taylor, was world class, being cool and calm in tense situations and allowing the players to take a decision and play their own game without influencing from outside. Kandy won the League for the 12th yearand has 19 Clifford Cup titles under their belt. Kandy SC clinched the Triple titles in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2002-2009. Skipper and former Trinitian Sean Wijesinghetold the Daily FT: “First of all I am thankful to our sponsors who propped us up and gave their full support; without their support we could not have come this far. Our Rugby Committee and Trustee of Kandy SC Malik Samarawickrema gave us his full support at all times. My team including the overseas guys played as one unit. We missed our coach Taylor during the last two seasons but he was back with us this season. He was world class and read the game beautifully from out. He allowed me to take decisions and run the game. Last but not least our Kandy supporters were behind us, whether we won or lost. No other rugby playing club is fortunate to have such a huge following in Sri Lanka. Every single home match attracts a crowd of no less than 5,000 and even when we playin Colombo more than 2,000 are there to support us.” Trustee of the Club former Royal scrum half Malik Samarawickrema speaking to the Daily FT thanked the sponsors, team, coaching staff and spectators for coming in numbers and backing the team in a big way. No other club gets this kind of support anywhere in the country. Platinum sponsors Cargills Ltd. hosted the team and its rugby committee for a dinner last weekend. Pix by M. Shafeek