| Sports |
||||||
|
Rugby's
peace mission
Naturally cricket took the limelight as the nation has found a sport in which they can compete and win on the world scene. However, the passion for rugby of the ordinary Sri Lankans has continued to simmer under the surface and when the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union launched a massive development programme in the rural areas the game started to fight back with the leading rugby schools leading the challenge. "The schools set-up was superb and more people watched schools rugby than any other sport," former Royal scrumhalf and captain Mahes Rodrigo said, "The match between Royal and Trinity for the Bradbury Shield was the most prestigious rugby match in the Island and used to draw up to 10-15,000 spectators in the old days and much more now. It was all the work of the Old Boys, who felt duty-bound to help their own school and invested time and resources." Seventy-four-year old Rodrigo is a Iegend of Sri Lankan sport. He was the wicketkeeper of the glorious Ceylonese team of the 1950s, scorer of a magnificent 135 not out against the West Indies in 1949, and a century against Pakistan in 1952, at a time Sri Lanka was still aspiring to acquire Test status in cricket. But despite his prowess in cricket and similar to many of his compatriots rugby remained his main passion. "Until 1948 only expatriates had represented Ceylon in rugby. In 1938, thanks to the efforts of Noel Gratien, a native Ceylonese team entered the prestigious all-India tournament and surprised everybody with the quality of their game. But it took another 10 years before the first born-and-bred Ceylonese represented the country and one has to say that without Noel Gratien's foresight and energy this would have not been possible. Like many of his peers Rodrigo is still heavily involved in charitable work for his former school raising funds, helping and advising as well as providing moral support to one of the talented Royal schoolboys crippled by a rugby accident. A somewhat similar scenario, with the Old Boys taking the lead in an attempt to secure a safe and sound playing environment for schoolboys is enacted at Isipathana School, on the other side of Colombo. During the last decades, as Isipathana founded 50 years ago, had developed into one of the leading forces on the competitive school rugby scene, its annual clash with Royal for the "Major Milroy Fernando" Trophy became one of the highlights of the season. "The trophy was donated by my late father Colonel Dudley Fernando, himself a former Royal student and player, in the memory of my older brother Milroy who was killed in action in 1986. Milroy, who was a very gifted player, represented both Isipathana and Royal and the match between the two schools is played nowadays for the trophy bearing his name," said Dilroy Fernando. Sri Lanka's best known international referee. Dilroy Fernando, who also played for Isipathana is a former international fly half and centre, having represented Sri Lanka in the 1984 Asian Championship. He stopped playing in 1985 due to a serious knee injury. He started refereeing in 1991 and has since become one of the top referees in Asia, as well as an IRB Referee Trainer for the Asian region. A successful businessman and industrialist, he combines his passion for rugby with charity work for his former school in Colombo, Isipathana College, where he is one of the driving forces behind the Rugby Old Boys organisation. Isipathana's Old Boys most cherished project is a new rugby ground which would replace the dirt track currently used by Isipathana. "The Old Boys Association has been doing a lot to help the school. Supported by a host of like-minded people, Dilroy wishes to use the tournament to help build bridges between the divided communities of the Island. "We feel that this is a good opportunity to develop ties with schools in the North and North-East, previously untouched by rugby. We intend to invite schoolboys from those areas to the tournament, to host them, feed them and let them enjoy the game of rugby and the friendship that comes with it. We intend to give them rugby balls and coaching video tapes to get them started and then we will invite them again as well as perhaps organise ourselves a tour over there. Tamil people in Sri Lanka do not play much rugby, though in Tamil Nadu, in India rugby is very popular. I have been to Chennai in Tamil Nadu to a tournament and the enthusiasm was simply contagious. It was very encouraging indeed." This project of bringing the kids of the two communities together through rugby is supported by a lot of people, including the Sports Minister, Mr. Johnston Fernando and obviously the SLRFU President Harsha Mayadunne. Rugby is a great healer of wounds and perhaps can help to build bridges between people and communities," Fernando said. Isipathana's efforts to build a new rugby ground are mirrored in Kandy - centre of the country's tea industry and the headquarters of the Central Rugby Union - by one of the Island's most venerable rugby establishments, Kingswood College, the cradle of the game in Sri Lanka. It was in Kingswood in 1891 where rugby was taught in (Ceylon) Sri Lanka for the first time by an inspired educationalists and visionary Louis Edmond Blazé - the founder of the school - who specifically went to Calcutta to learn the noble game. One hundred and ten years later, the school is building its own rugby field to celebrate the original fixture - the first ever in Sri Lanka - against their traditional rivals and fellow history-makers from Trinity College. -iRB World of Rugby 'Karu',
first to win a marathon in Europe Unlike in the past the present athletes are in luck's way, via sponsorship packages and fringe benefits. Even the rural athletes are the beneficiaries, to go places in life. But in 1990, a rural athlete, long distance runner, K.A. Karunaratne, from the Sri Lanka Army, didn't have the resources despite being selected to take part in the Zurich, European Open Marathon (Switzerland). After a media exposure highlighting his plight, public sympathy was drawn and with the help of the public, he made it to Switzerland. 'Karu', the 29-year-old humble athlete did not let down his fans nor the country. Some of the best long distance runners drawn worldwide, took part. Weather-beaten 'Karu' who had self belief, plus grit and determination won the race in style. He left an indelible mark for the Army and Sri Lanka track and field sports. He won in two hrs., 18 mts., followed by a Russian athlete (two hrs., 22 mts.) and an Ethiopian was placed third (two hrs., 25 mts.). The then Minister of Sports Nanda Mathew, paid a glowing tribute to 'Karu'. He brought honour to the country. It proved that discipline and perseverance is the guiding light to achieve one's objective. The then secretary of the AAA, P. Don Victor, who has contributed much for the development of track and field sport commended 'Karu's' effort. To this category falls the legendary late Duncan White who hadn't the money to buy a pair of running shoes in his trail-blazing career. He won an Olympic Silver at the Wembley Olympics (1948). Jaffna's N. Ethirweerasingham, Ivan Boteju, Kosala Sahabandu, Nirmala Dissanayake, Dr. H.M.P. Perera, R.E. Kitto, P. Don Victor, Sunil Gunawardena, Lakshman de Alwis were members of the 'gold' winning relay team in Teheran. Meanwhile another Karunaratne from the Army did proud for the soldiers when pugilist Lance Corporal N.H. Karunaratne, better known as 'King Karu' won a 'gold' at the Third Asian Boxing Championship held in Colombo. Karunaratne was also the last boxer to represent the country at the Olympic Games and that was at the Mexico Olympics in 1968. Nineteen years ago, the 39-year-old national hero, Lieutenant Karunaratne was tragically killed in an accident at Palaly Army Camp, while demonstrating to his troops, the art of jumping-off from a moving vehicle, when a reversing jeep ran over him. The sad part of it was that he was, due to retire in a month's time and he died in Jaffna where he had spent his days as a toddler. Ruchira's
action stirs hornet's nest Of course he was not called by the two umpires, but submitted their report to the authorities for a clearance. Muralitharan was called in Australia on two occasions in 1996. Ironically they are being queried and 'called' away but not in our own backyard. It's rather amusing. Some bowlers apparently with suspect action are allowed to enjoy a 'Carry on Series', by the umpires and the authorities concerned here. What remedial measures have been taken by the authorities in a panel headed by a director of coaching to rectify them if they are found wanting in their bowling arm?. There are plenty of them be it at school and at club level. Even the umpires have shown a blind eye when officiating. Apparently they are the main culprits for this sad episode. Schoolboy bowlers with bent arm go unchecked. Neither called by the umpires nor the school coaches have taken remedial measures to put them right by adjusting their delivery action. Bowlers with suspect actions undoubtedly are the main-spring of their bowling armour in some of the school teams. Ironically, in some quarters a good coach is not judged by the batting and bowling skills with an eye for the future at national level, but instant results. There are quite a number of coaches with paper certificates, but are they competent to coach or do they have the greater interest of the game. It's merely done for material gain, apparently a bane here in any walk of life. It has happened in the past. An umpire agreed to the action of a first class bowler who occasionally hurls a delivery with a bent arm. He confessed if I called him I'll be at the receiving end. - BW |
||||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
