One-of-a-kind Zahirian with the Midas touch in Sports

M.M.K. Namiz (47), a versatile and outstanding sportsman of Zahira College Colombo, died last Sunday evening, under shocking circumstances. According to his close friends, Namiz died of a cardiac arrest following open heart surgery last Saturday from which he never regained conscious.

Namiz was a star schoolboy sportsman at Zahira in four sports he represented his alma mater.

Namiz was a topnotch wicketkeeper-batsman and represented Zahira for 3 seasons. He was also a key player in the College Rugby, Football and Hockey teams. In Cricket, he was a top scorer and a very agile wicketkeeper. He went on to score over 1,000 runs in 2 successive seasons for Zahira and was knocking the doors of the national team. He captained the 1st XI side in 1988. A golden year for Namiz, for many reasons.

"Namiz broke a set of teeth in the upper jaw while playing a 1st XI match against Ananda College where former Sri Lanka Captain, Marvan Atapattu was also a member. He never made any attempt to fix it because he would always say he lost his teeth for Zahira and it should remain so until his last breath," one of his former cricket team mates said.

1988 was Namiz's Golden Year as he captained the Zahira College Cricket, Football and Athletics teams and was also its Head Prefect that year.

Namiz was a centre and wingthree-quarter and played Rugby for Zahira for 3 seasons. He was the goal kicker and apillar of strength on the field. Namiz would spend extra hours daily, before or after practices, perfecting his kicking abilities.

"I was really privileged to play under Namiz, who would undertake all the burdens and spend all his energy to lift the spirit of his teammates. He was a perfect team player, and would back and motivate, even the juniors in the team. He would always work hard to see the team win every game, and when Zahira lost, he would be the most disappointed out of the lot. My most unforgettable moment about Namiz was his spectacular try against Wesley College in 1989, where he booted the ball in our own '10', raced to recollect the ball in Wesley's '22' and went on to score under the post. He was a livewire even after his schooldays, as a coach and an administrator. He will be greatly missed," said Nazeem Ghaffoor, a teammate of Namiz.

Unknown to many, Namiz was also an outstanding sprinter in Athletics. Once, in an All-Island 100 metres final he was runner-up to Sriyantha Dissanayake, who went on to become a sprint ace in Sri Lanka.

Namiz missed too many opportunities to represent Sri Lanka in Cricket, Rugby or Football. Soon after leaving school, he was Zahira's 1st Under-15 and Under-13 Rugby coach of Zahira. Then he moved to Saudi Arabia to continue his father's business activities and spent 7 years there. He also represented Saudi Arabia at Cricket for 2 years.

Upon his return he played Division II Cricket, but could not pursue it for long. He then went on to become a member of, the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee of the Old Boys Association, a President of the Group of 90 and a member of the Parent Teacher Association. But above all, he was considered a source of inspiration for many Zahirians, past and present.

Namiz's contribution to Zahira as a top sportsman, was outstanding exemplary and unmatched. He was a great motivator and a perfect role model.-- Naushad