Thomians are famous for their cricket, rugby-football, hockey, swimming, water-polo and athletics to a certain extent. But when Old Thomian Faisal Haniffa bagged the All Island Billiards Championships 2011 several eye-brows were raised. It was time to sit up and take notice of Haniffa’s achievements on the green baize.
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| Faisal Haniffa is action. – Pic by Sanka Vidanagama. |
Never in the known sports history of S. Thomas’College Mount Lavinia had anyone won a billiards title, that too at All Island level.
At the recently concluded All Island Billiards Championships Haniffa displayed ice cool nerves and tolerable patience to get the better of D.B. Ekanayake of Kandy to the best of five frames – obtaining a lead of 75 points.In the run-up to the final Faisal Haniffa beat Manor Jahn (Moors SC), M.H.M. Fazal (Moors SC) and Somadasa of Kandy. All these players are well known billiards players.
A well known figure in the local billiards and snooker scene Haniffa moved like greased lightning around the green baize. A player must first strike a special ball called the cue ball with the tip of the cue. The cue ball must then strike one object ball in order to score points. Haniffa used the cue ball with great skill to drive into the pockets. In the process he collected a bagful of points which his opponent failed to overtake.
Haniffa has been playing billiards and snooker for 25 years and is a very popular figure in snooker and billiards contests. Last year Haniffa was runner-up at the All Island Billiards competition held at the Billiards Headquarters at the Race Course.
Speaking on the billiards scene in Sri Lanka he is sad to note that the Sports Ministry had not given much of an encouragement to this popular Indoor Game. “When MJM Lafir won the World Title in Bombay (1972) all spoke highly of Lafir’s achievements. We expected the Sports Ministry to give all support of Lafir’s son Fazal. However nothing materialized. Lafir, sadly, passed away in 1973 without being able to further his success. Now, Fazal is whiling away his time aimlessly.”
“Presently the round-robin part of the National Billiards tournament at the Moors SC tables is over and players are getting ready for the knock-out round. K.H. Sirisoma is a hot favourite. The last 16 will take part in the knock-out round. The others is the running are: Abdul Sattar, Aslam and MS Shahwardie,” said Haniffa.
The Government should give good cash incentives. Should get foreign coaches and encourage youngsters to play billiards and snooker. There is a lot of talent in the country and most of it is not tapped, was Faisal’s view.
To a question whether Fisal knows of any Thomians past and present who are good billiards and snooker players, He said: “Peter Senaratne’s son used to play billiards but I have not heard of him for a long time.”
Speaking of his schooldays at S. Thomas’ Faisal said that he remembers the rugby skills of Michael Jayasekera, the Rockwood brothers and Juni Cader. In cricket he spoke in adoring terms of Duleep Mendis and Anura Tennekoon.
Presently Faisal Haniffa is a member of the MICH and has been a member of Moors SC for quite a while. |
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