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Farewell Dida
By Rangi Akbar
Didacus De Almeida was practically unstoppable as a centre. He hit his purple patch when he represented the CR&FC in the mid-60s. He used to waltz past defenders leaving them clutching at thin air with his speed and swerving runs.

Kavan Rambukwella, who coached the CR in 1965 and 1966 with Summa Navaratnam, were quick to spot his talents. They used Dida’s skills to shoot CR to the top at a time when players such as Thiruchitampalam, Reggie Bartholomeusz, Mohan Sahayam, Tony Sirimanne and Ronnie Schokman held sway in the local rugby scene.

There was a distinguished crowd at the General Cemetery on December 31 to bid farewell to this affable character. The local rugby scene was well represented with a few players such as Samuel Canagasabai, the former Trinity Lion and CR rugby player who had flown in from Canada on a private visit, too being present amongst the gathering.

The former St. Peter’s College, CR and Sri Lanka rugby centre Didacus De Almeida died of a heart attack on the night of December 29 while attending the wedding of the daughter of his onetime team-mate Ronnie Schokman.

He was 62 years old.
Interestingly the occasion where De Almedia was last with his friends of the rugby fraternity was also memorable to ex-Sri Lanka youth player ,the son of the late minister C. V. Gooneratne, who married Schokman’s daughter.

The stockily built Almeida was a versatile player and one of the finest sporting products of St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya who went on to become the vice captain of the Sri Lanka rugby team at the Colombo Asiad in 1974.

He represented the College team in first XI cricket as a spin bowler, batsman and brilliant cover point fielder. He was also an athlete. However, it was the game of rugby that he pursued with an intense passion. He was known and praised for his fearless tackling and forceful runs as a centre three-quarter of the 1960's and 70's. Didacus also captained CR and FC with distinction.

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