Skipper Gayan Weerarthne and his band of Red, White and Blue shirts who have been keeping the vast Kandy rugby fans thrilled in the past with sterling performances will once again draw the crowds to Nittawela today, when they take on Army SC in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League match, kick off at 4.00 pm. the fans are expected to gather in large numbers to witness an interesting game of rugby as this is Kandy’s first outing for the season in their home town.
Having played two games so far, the Kandy SC rugby authorities should by now may have realized that playing unfit players who are weak in certain departments of the game is not going to help Kandy to maintain the standard.
I am only referring to the manner in which they played in the last two games in Colombo. Kandy SC’s rugby committee headed by Lasantha Wijesuirya is keen to win with a big score, if that is to happen then he should play the right players in
the right positions. It is up to the experienced and senior players to guide the side and help them to reach top level. It is important to bring in good talented players to display good rugby.
Army SC who beat CH & FC in the last outing, have won one game in two outings are hoping to be better prepared for this battle, they are under the guidance of a former Kandy SC player Nilufer Ibrahim. Winning against Kandy at Nittawela, is never easy. But Army SC will be hoping for a repeat performance like in their last game, The Soldiers create lots of scoring opportunities but they lack the finish. In this game if they minimize their lapses they are bound to pose a threat to the Kandyans.
In the last two games Kandy have shown their potential as the favourite team for the title. A good win by Kandy should further enhance their confidence .
The fans have been very enthusiastic ,there is no other sport like rugby for them ,supporters respect the opponents and also they enjoy each other’s company.
The two squads are as follows:-
Kandy SC - Gayan Weerarathne (C), Damith Dissanayake, Richard Dharmapala, Oshan Perera, Buwenaka Udangamuwa, Dimitri Wijethunga, Thilina Wijesinghe, Jason Dissanayake, Nigel Rattawatte, Lavanga Perera, Fazil Marija, Lasitha Aththanagoda, Danush Dayan, Dhanushka Ranjan, Asitha Rathnayake, Yakoob Ali, Arshad Jamaldeen, Piyumal Machanayake, Anurudda Wilwara, Ganuka Dissanayake, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Shashika Jayawardana, Heshan Kalhara, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Suhiru Anthony, Ashan Darling, Tharindu Chathuranga, Sanushka Abeywickrama, Heshan Jansen, Diluksha Dange, Kasun Srinath, Chathura Senevirathne, Lakshitha Ranaweera
Army SC - Thusitha Senanayake (C), Ashoka Jayalal, Dinesh Suranga,
Imanka Ariyapala, Pradeep Victor, Sampath Rosa, Chandima Upul, Dileepa Niroshan, Gayashan Dickumbura, Prasanna Jayathunga, Kasun Maduranga, Rizwi Mohommed, Sachin Dilshan, Ashan Bandara, Danushka Pushpakumara, Chameera Silva, Manjula Weerasinghe, Krishanth Pushpakumara, Malith Sanjeewa, Danushka Thalwatta, Isuru Madagedara, Sanjeewa Hapugaskanda, Gayan Salinda, Sameera Dushan, Danuka Wijethilake, Sanjaya Kumara, Ruwan Sampath (Nilfer Ibrahim Coach, Anuranga Walpola Assistant Coach, Major Chamara Nanayakkara Team Manager).