Vijaya College Matale lifts hockey titles
Hockey at Vijaya College Matale has risen to greater heights this year with their stickers winning almost every title on offer in the schools hockey arena, thus displaying their dominance over other hockey-playing schools.
Showing tremendous potential and talent, Matale Vijayans started their winning streak by clinching a hockey double in the Under17 segment. They emerged joint champions with Christ Church College Matale at the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association ( SLSHA) AllIsland Schools Championship 2012 for the boys of Under-17 age group, held recently in Colombo.
Their star playe r Saminda Costa was adjudged the best player in the tournament. Earlier this year, the Matale Vijayans emerged joint champions with hometown rivals St. Thomas’ College at the Maris Sevens, an AllIsland Schools Sevens hockey tournament for boys in the Under- 17 age category conducted by Maris Stella College Negombo, thus completing a double.
They also showed their class in hockey by defeating fancied home town rivals St. Thomas’ 1-0 in the final to emerge champions in the Central Province Schools Under-19 championship 2012 played at the Astro Turf in Matale last week. It was conducted by the Education Department to select the best three teams from the Central Province to compete at the forthcoming National Schools Hockey Championship 2012 to be held shortly. Nine teams – five from Kandy and four from the Matale Educational region participated. The teams are coached by dynamic hockey coach and former national player Anuruddha Bandara Herath, who is also the master- in- charge at Vijaya Matale. –
L.D. Chandrasiri