Never-say-die Kandy stamp their class
The much cherished and adored Kandy Sports Club (KSC), as we know it now, was founded in 1874, and the unlikely name given to it was Kandy ABCDC ( Athletic, Boating, Cricket & Dancing Club). The pioneers of the project were a group of Coffee Planters. The Kandy matches were played at Bogambara.
1949 is significant in the history of KSC, as, in that year, the Kandy Municipal Council released the dumping grounds at Nittawela to be converted into a Rugby Ground. Kandy, at this time, was not a flourishing Club. That came some decades later. What the Planters started was adopted by some of Kandy’s business leaders Chandra Wijenaike, E. W. Balasuriya and C.D.L. Fernando, to name a few.
KSC were Clifford Cup finalists on 5 occasions ( 1954 under S. B. Pilapitiya, 1955 under Ken Mcpherson, 1978 under Denzil Kobbekaduwa, 1979 under Y. C. Chang and in 1981 under Irwin Howie). On almost all those occasions they were thrashed by the CR&FC. In 1989, the Kandy team led by Anil Jayasinghe was whipped 89- 13 by the Police. That was the nadir in their fortunes.
The turnaround, the salvation came in 1991/92, when that great benefactor Malik Samarawickrema turned his attention from the CR& FC, where he was safely ensconced, to KSC. The Club has not looked back since. The Clifford Cup was pouched in 1992 under Ananda Kasturiarachchi. Yet, the Club's hierarchy felt that the transition wasn’t complete. The fulfillment of their dream came about in 1997, when the Club achieved the triple under the captaincy of Lasantha Wijesuriya.
Since then, Clifford Cups, President’s Trophies and Caltex League Championships have been won in abundance. KSC had become the most sought after Club. To their opponents, KSC was the team to beat. The Club’s think-tank, quite aware of this, ensured that a steady stream of top quality Rugby players from other Clubs kept joining the KSC.
What makes KSC tick? What attracts players to the hill country Club? The players are looked after very well. Every player is covered by a Medical Insurance policy. There have been occasions when injured players have been sent abroad for surgery at Club expense. Above all, any player will have a longing, a desire to be part of such a successful Club.
Success is a logical outcome of the discipline enforced. Attendance at practice and punctuality are demanded. Save for the customary post-match beer, players drinking at the Club is taboo. Drinking one's self silly, even outside the Club, is visited by punishment.
Like Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, KSC has invested in a strong Bench. It is not unusual to see quite a few Sri Lanka players occupying the Bench. This came in Kandy, particularly in the season just past, when the Club had a surfeit of injuries to key players. Gayan Weeraratne ( missed the entire season), Srinath Sooriyabandara, Buvanaka Udangamuwe, Danush Dayan, Anuruddha Wilwara all missed matches at different times.
This past season, KSC had five players from Maliyadeva College in their squad. In the previous season, they inducted Heshan Jansen and Lakshita Ranawe era from Kingswood College. Interestingly, these new players are not thrown in at the deep end straight away, unless they have the talent of a Hisham Abdeen or a Fazil Marija. They are broken in more gradually.
Much to the disappointment of KSC’s ardent fans, the Club failed to have an unbeaten run in 2017/2018. The Army SC beat them at Nittawela - something unthinkable, almost akin to the capture of Vadamarachchi! CH& FC and the Havies were also able to topple the champions. Yet, the class and character of the players came through, as they went on to bag the plum.
This year’s squad comprised inter alia, Richard Dharamapala (Captain), Thilina Wijesinghe, Danushka Ranjan, Nigel Ratwatte, Vishwamitra Jayasinghe, Anuruddha Wilwara, Roshan Weeraratne, Uchita Jayasuriya, Damith Dissanaike, Yakoob Ali, Suhiru Anthony, Jason Dissanaike, Tharindu Chaturanga, Danush Dayan, Buwaneka Udangamuwe, Ganuka Dissanaike, Ashan Darling, Arshad Jamaldeen and Lasitha Attanagoda.
As for the men behind the scenes, Club President Mahes Weerasinghe and Secretary Sujeeva Liyanage deserve kudos for their encouragement. In this connection, the late Dr. Sanath Kapuwatte, who had been the President for a total of 21 years, at four different periods, must be mentioned.
Coach Sean Wijesinghe did not relent and was unfazed by a few losses. He, however, stayed the course, and delivered. Fazil Marija, as his assistant, must have had a bit of input, too. Kapila Silva did well as the Manager. The guiding hand and the brains behind the success come from the Trustee. It is almost a case of No Malik, No Kandy!