Iqbal Jumar
It was with deep sadness that a host of friends learnt the news of the demise of Iqbal Jumar who although was 83 years looked a handsome 60 years and a picture of fitness.
He passed away on August 11 and his Janaza took place at the Katukelle Jummah mosque cemetery on the following day.
There were many close and old friends from far away and of course Kandy to bid him farewell.
Parting from loved ones we are told is sweet sorrow. All of us at the cemetery were deeply saddened by Iqbal’s passing, hence this parting is sorrowful.
An upright man and principled to the hilt, he was loved by all, both on and off the field.
His integrity and pleasing personality enabled him to hold top executive positions in many mercantile establishments.
I have lost an intimate friend of 65 years and privileged to have known the Jumars of Peradeniya Road, Kandy – perhaps the best known sporting family in Kandy.
Yours has been an innings well played and a race well run.
It is a pleasure and duty to recapture Iqbal’s outstanding achievements.
Iqbal was born to be a sportsman with exceptional and inherent talent. He could have reached great heights in any ball-game but chose hockey as his preference.
A distinguished Kingswoodian, he shone in many sports, winning full Colours in hockey and soccer, while being a regular member of the senior cricket team.
While still a schoolboy, he represented Kandy District H.A. at the National Hockey Championships. In 1959, the sports loving Carson Cumberbach & Company was happy to offer employment to Iqbal where he worked for 15 years.
Along with Internationals Chandra Schaffter, V. Jeyaratnam, L.P. Rayen and K. Sampanthan, he helped ‘Carsons’ to many championships in ‘A’ Division tournaments conducted by the Mercantile H.A.
In the Premier club tournaments, he represented the Burgher R.C. and Malay C.C. and played in many a victorious term and in 1970 was a vital member of the Malay C.C. team that toured South India. The first club side to do so.
His contribution to the Mercantile H.A. was remarkable, representing the Association at the Senior National Championships from 1961 to 1974, captaining the winning team in 1968.
He was Chairman of the Selection Committee from 2004 to 2009, Manager Senior Nationals from 2001 to 2005 and 2008 and Vice President from 2008/09.
He captained the Over 45 side on Mercantile H.A tours of Ipoh and Penang in 2000 and was hockey manager in 2009.
For Ceylon/Sri Lanka, Iqbal was the automatic choice for 14 years in the vital position of Right Extreme. Being the fastest mover on the field, it was a joy to see him sprinting down the line at full speed and with complete control of the ball, executing strategic moves resulting in many goals by him and teammates.
His International career speaks for itself; three Asian Games playing against Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and West Germany.
He remembered with nostalgia, scoring the winning goals against Singapore and Indonesia and beating Japan during the ‘Nehru Tournament’ in India.
As if these achievements were not enough, he took to rugby at school and went on to be a classy player. Joining CR and FC in the early 1960s, Kavan Rambukwela spotted his inherent talent, taught and groomed him in the basics of the game.
He represented the club’s ‘A’ team from 1965 to 1968 as a three-quarter and ended as a fullback.
In the All India Tournament, representing CR versus the Army in the semi-finals, Iqbal deftly converted a 50 yard penalty to seal victory for his club and repeated it in the final against Havelock SC with a fantastic conversion that gave CR the coveted All-India Cup. On the strength of these magnificent performances, Iqbal was selected for the Ceylon XV against the Combined Services.
Iqbal played with me for B.R.C., Malays, Mercantile H.A. and Ceylon and we shared lasting memories and friendship.
