Kandy Sports Club, the country’s number one force in domestic rugby, could come to a screeching end if what CH and FC’s rugby boss army Major Tanesh Dias says can come true at the forthcoming inter-club season.
For more than 15 years Kandy has been the most hated team among rival clubs some of whom have come within inches of toppling but failed to do so due to what Dias says is all about psychological fears.
“We will do everything possible not to allow Kandy have it their way”, declared Dias who is CH and FC’s Rugby Committee Chairman and club secretary.
“And I hope once we beat them all the others that have been struggling to beat them will realise it is possible.
“No doubt Kandy has some fine players, but it is all in the mind that they cannot be beaten. Some teams are scared of Kandy even before they can get into a match. We’ll be different this time”.
CH, said to be the oldest club in the country set up by the British, was at one time a dominating force in local rugby and as a first step has already began a revamping process recruiting new players, investing money and even on a promotion to offer their fans free gate entrance at their home ground at Maitland Crescent.
A product of S. Thomas’ College, Dias counts some 25 years in General Management and Administration, Sales and Marketing Management, Business and Brand Development, Corporate Communications, Finance, Digital Media, General Operations and Military Affairs. He is also an award winner in global marketing. Dias’ threat may be taken lightly by some Kandy supporters, but his quest to raise CH rugby and bring it alongside the best gives his players an added punch after they started off the 2018 season by winning the Colombo leg of the inter-club Sevens that Kandy did not contest. In the last League season they finished in the fourth position. “We have just one target in mind and that is to win back the League. To do this we will have to put away Kandy”, said Dias while noting that CH has not won the League title since1994.
If CH and FC can live up to expectations it could also mean that more fans or those who turned their backs on club rugby due to a Kandy one-horse race season after season will make their return to the club scene. While not grudging the success of Kandy over the past 15 years, analysts believe that the defeat of Kandy is the only way that a level-playing field can be created and the ultimate winner not predictable until the end of the second round.
But there are others who contend that none in the Colombo clubs will be able to match the finances available at Kandy Sports Club and beating them would be a distant dream unless they can be matched financially.
But Dias prefers to stick to his challenge and will not be discouraged by any factor.
“We already have made a good strategic plan. Our rugby committee so far has done the entire planning to beat Kandy. As I believe all the players have the same talents and it’s our duty to tune them up. We have the players to defeat Kandy SC’s players”, said Dias.
He believes that an influx of young players into the club has formed what he called “an emotional bond” with all players thinking alike and playing as a team and not having to worry about any political squabbles in the clubhouse which some observers put down to the decline of CH and FC over the years.
“Our players will rebuild our image and tradition like it was in the 1970s and continue that into the future”, said Dias while paying a tribute to current club president Shammi Silva and the entry of the Rajapaksa brothers Yoshitha and Rohitha, both Sri Lanka players who crossed over from Navy and Army respectively along with several other big names in the clubs.
Among them are Sudharshana Muthuthantri, Lee Keegal, Sajith Saranga, Sathiya Ranatunga, Anuradha Herath, Henry Terrance, Sasanka Ariyaratne, Hirantha Perera, Sudham Sooriyarachchi and Nishon Perera.