Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

We want one hundred percent commitment from our players - Malik

- By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Thomian and Medical Practition­er Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte was reelected for the record 20th time as President of the Kandy Sports Club at the 139th Annual General meeting held at the Nittawela Club House.

Former Trinitian and National fifteens skipper Sean Wijesinghe was elected as the rugby captain of the outfit for the coming rugby season which will be kicked off in November this year. The club is also fortunate to get back Johan Taylor as the Head Coach who will be back at the club in one month’s time.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, trustee former Royal scrum half Malik Samarawick­rema said: “Our first priority is to bring back the League and knock out trophies. We have a huge task on our hands. We have been winning trophies since 1992 but in the recent past almost 3 to 4 teams have improved tremendous­ly and narrowed the gap. It’s good for the game in the end. Our guys are a discipline­d lot and I am very confident with Sean Wijesinghe, leading the outfit and getting back Johan Taylor our target is within reach. He continued and said: “We need 100 percent commitment from the players and will select the team with youth and experience. Our ‘B’ team won the league and the plate trophy at the sevens. This speaks volume on their capabiliti­es and would be good feeder for their senior team.

Malik praised former Kandy SC and Sri Lanka player Nalaka Weerakody for his contributi­on in grooming the young play- Dharmasiri Madugalle

Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte Malik Samarawick­rema, Hemaka Amarasuriy­a

Udaya Balasuriya Mahesh Weerasingh­e, Hafiz Marikar Leslie De Zoysa Channa Jayatilake Milroy Mendis Maurice Joachim Janaka Pathirana

Sean Wijesinghe ers to win the ‘B’ league.

“We will not go for big names. We will always give equal opportunit­y of youth and experience and each and every player will need to earn their place. It’s not

Anton Nanayakkar­a, Lasantha Wijesuriya, Anuruddha Ranasinghe, Sujeewa Liyanage, Niyaz Majeed, Lasantha Fonseka, Upali Silva, Upul Jayasuriya, Dr Anura Welikala and Shamseer Jaleel. Arafath Abdeen Nalaka Weerakody Lasantha Wijesuriya Sajith Mallikarac­hchi Niyaz Majeed Johan Taylor

Kapila Silva reserved for any.”

He ended by saying, “We will bring down 3-4 quality overseas players and also look at the performanc­es of our last year’s players first before deciding whom to bring down.”

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