HOME GROUND A REALITY FOR PATHANA?
Triple schools- rugby title-winning Isipathana College may finally have a ground of their own, if an initiative led by Minister of Telecom and Digital Infrastructure Development Harin Fernando proves successful.
Isipathana, despite being the most successful rugby playing school in the country for almost three decades, has not had the privilege of playing ‘home’ matches as they do not have a ground of their own. The ‘Green Machine’ played their designated home matches last season at either the nearby Havelocks Sports Club Grounds or at the CR & FC Grounds in Longdon Place.
Minister Fernando, a rugby enthusiast who played an active role in the organizing of the recent Sri Lanka Super Sevens Tournament, said that discussions were ongoing and the support of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Development Policies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama will be sought to allocate the school a ground.
“We have identified an area in Narahenpita (along Kirimandala Mawatha) and the other option is the Henry Pedris grounds. i would prefer the latter as that is walking distance from the school,” the Minister said. “There are a few things that need to be worked out such as the cost of the place, but we are hopeful we can sort that out.”
The Minister also handed over a cheque worth over Rs. 5 million to the school – money the Minister had received after auctioning a New Zealand All Blacks jersey signed by the Rugby World Cup winning team recently – when he met school officials yesterday.
“When you look at the quality of rugby that the school has produced with the limited infrastructure that is available to them, it is unbelievable the success they have had. They have rendered an enormous service to Sri Lankan Rugby, with their talent and their Trophies, and have always been the best team with minimum facilities,” Minister Fernando said. “Some schools spend between Rs. 15-25 million every season, and Isipathana keep winning the league despite having a far smaller budget.”
The Minister, who is an oldboy of St. Joseph’s College, said he was moved to auction the signed All Blacks Jersey, which he was given when he attended the rugby worldcup final last year, after watching the final match of the schools league tournament between Isipathana and S. Thomas’ College, where he witnessed the quality of the schools rugby.
“Isipathana have always been the team to beat and I remember when I was eight and my cousin played for the St. Joseph’s team and beat them, what it meant to our school. The passion they have for rugby and the guts and might they show on the field is incredible and I think they are fully deserving of this donation. Schools like this must be supported and encouraged,” he said.
Senior Vice-president of the Isipathana Oldboys Association Rajeew Rodrigo confirmed that plans were afoot to sort out a ground for the school, and that a third location, Shalika Grounds, was also considered, but since it was owned by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) it would be a difficult proposition. He said the school plays 12 outdoor sports, which would also have to be considered. The cost of development, he said, will be incurred by the school once it was given the land.
Rodrigo said that the money donated to the school would not be injected into the day to day rugby expenses but would be put into a fund which the school will add to yearly.
“We have decided to put this Rs. 5.1 million into a Rugby Fund, and add to it yearly so that in an event we have a sponsorship shortfall in the future we could rely on this fund,” he said.
“We are grateful to Minister Fernando for his support even though he is an oldboy of a school that is also in the ‘A’ Division. He has been involved with developing St. Joseph’s Rugby, so we are thankful that he has come forward to help us, a rival school,” he added.
Interestingly Isipathana College have advertised for a First XV Coach, following the reported signing of title-winning Coach Nilfer Ibrahim by St. Joseph’s for the upcoming season.