Matale Zahirians creates history

By Shamseer Jaleel

Zahira College, Matale, created history when they achieved their maiden win in the Boys Hockey Championship at the National School Games 2015 organised by the Ministry of Education and played at the Royal College Astro turf in Colombo recently. Last year the Matale Zahirians ended as runners-up to Royal College.

Zahira College, Matale, has produced a large number of national players including S.I. Ajward, A. Ayub, M. Zarook, A.J.M. Farook and many others. Besides winning a number of other tournaments, they were the consolation prize winners at the 2013 National Schools Games, then moving up one slot higher to finish as runners-up in 2014.

This year, they won the Central Province Under-19 Schools Championship, defeating Christ College, Matale, 3-0 in the finals. In the National School Games finals, they beat St. Aloysius College, Galle 2-1.

The team was captained by Abdur Rahman In the finals while M. Mohammed Ifras was adjudged the Best Player. M.M. Waseem, who is the Assistant Coach, moulded the side in the absence of the regular coach, helped by the Master-in-Charge and the Prefect of Games who is also a hockey umpire –Mohammed Hanafi.