Sudath Sampath tipped to be appointed Under-18 Head Coach

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Isipathana, Kandy and Police scrum half Sudath Sampath is tipped to take over Under-18 coaching duties when the Sri Lanka youth outfit take part in the Commonwealth Youth Games 2017, which will take place in the Bahamas from 19-23 July, featuring 12 countries around the globe. 

Sampath led the Sri Lankan Under-18 to victory in the Asian Sevens which earned them this place and they will be the sole representatives from Asia.  

Thomian Chritian De Lile is tipped to lead the outfit after playing in the last Under-18 tournament in Hong Kong and Taipei under his schoolmate Naveen Heenakankanmge. The Sri Lanka youth outfit ended as champions in the tournament at the Asian Under-18 seven-a-side tournament. According to reliable sources former Kingswoodian and Kandy Assistant Coach Nalaka Weerakody is to be appointed as the Assistant Coach on tour.

Squad: Mohammed Shabeer (St. Anthony’s), Naveen Rajaratnam, Warren Weerakoon and Vishwa Ranaraja (Trinity), Daiyan Sabar (Wesley), Christian De Lile (S. Thomas’), Tharindu De Alwis and Gemunu Chethiya (St. Joseph’s ), Ravin Fernando (St. Peter’s), Nadeesha Chaminda (Isipathana), Dulanjala Piyatissa (Dharmaraja) and Ishara Liyanage (St. Anthony’s)

Standbys: Theeksha Gurusinghe (St. Anthony’s), Dilan Kavinda (St. Joseph’s), Harith Senanayake (S. Thomas’), H. Dananjaya (Maliyadeva) and Bawantha Udangamuwa (Dharmaraja)