Another battle of the ‘Roy-Tho season’ will be ticked off on the 1st of November when these two premier educational institutions clash at “The Blue Derby” for the 21st time.
The Royal-Thomian Football Encounter is the 5th oldest of the encounters behind cricket, rugby, rowing and waterpolo.
Royal College has been untouchable in The Blue Derby, having only lost once during the past decade. That was back in 2009 to the Thomian side led by Ashwin Dias. In 2008 and 2012 the lads from the school by the sea came close to a victory but were beaten on penalties.
Season thus far
Both sides met each other mid-way through the season in the Kotmale Chox U19 Football Championship group stage where a late goal by Royal captain Haritha Gajanayaka made the difference after Gonawala missed a host of opportunities in the first half for the Thomians.
Royal are coming into The Blue Derby on the back of a dominant 3-0 aggregate win over Mahinda College, Galle in the 20th Annual Encounter for the Albert Edirisinghe Memorial Trophy.
Royal College made it to the quarter final of the Kotmale Chox U19 Football Championship. Royal were minus their skipper due to injury and De Mazenod College defeated them 4-1. Royal finished second in the group stage behind Maris Stella College going down to them 4-0. The Reid Avenue boys won their matches against S.Thomas’, St.Mary’s and Royal Institute 1-0, 3-0 and 6-0 respectively.
Royal also won the bowl championship at the Zahira Sevens defeating Isipathana College on penalties.
Like Royal, S.Thomas’ are on the high after breaking the Trinity hoodoo in their 5th Annual Encounter winning the match 4-1 through a hat-trick by Deshan Gonawala.
In the Kotmale Chox Championship the Thomians went down with a late goal by Royal, while Maris Stella College and St.Mary’s College defeated them 5-0 and 4-2 respectively. However they managed to bounce back with a 4-0 win over Royal Institute in the final group stage match.
The Thomians defeated Lyceum College in the Divisional finals and in the Zonals they beat Christ King College in the semifinal but were unable to attend the final. They also went on to win the Futsal tournament organized by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.
Game Changers
Both sides are littered with skill and talent. The nerves will show on Saturday but the skill will over power, its key to make sure your emotions don’t get the better of them and that skill and talent over rules and the boys from Reid Avenue don’t seem to lack the talent in the likes of promising players such as the nippy Naveen Jout Nikalese who displays some amazing dribbling skills, the captain Gajanayake, Sajid Haseemdeen and Chathura Avishka who all show much passion for the sport and are quite sound when it comes to their technique and tactics with the ball.
For the school by the sea much would depend on midfielders Abikrishna Dharmalingam and especially Akhil Fernando who showed impressive skill and control of the game the last time these two sides met. His vision will be vital in setting free the marauding wingers in Yohan Mendis, Dion Dias and Deshan Gonawala.
Up for the Challenge
“We have a team which is really determined and training has been taught and the boys are really focused and confident after the Mahinda College win” said the little but highly talented skipper of Royal College, Haritha.
“Our personal life has taken a back seat and we have really gelled well as a team while doing the little things right at training and it has reflected on our performances on the field” said Gajanayake giving vibes of pure confidence in his tone.
“Winning the Futsal tournament conducted by the Football Federation was the highlight for us. We defeated CIS ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams and St.Joseph’s in the group stage. We beat Ananda College on penalties to book a place in the final. In the final defeated St.Benedict’s on penalties as well.” S.Thomas’ Captain Avantha Elapata added.
“Happy with my hat-trick but the job is half done. Winning Royal-Thomian this Saturday is our main aim.” Gonawala who has found his form at the right time for the Thomians and is all focused for the big game.
As with any Royal – Thomian encounter owing to the rich tradition and history among the two schools they share a passionate rivalry in the best means of sportsmanship and when it comes to the day of the encounter butterflies are felt in the stomachs or all players be it a veteran or fresher.
A Royal – Thomian is not any encounter it’s something special, something beyond expressive words and one should live it to know the exact feeling of wearing either the Blue and Black or the Blue and Gold at a “Roy-Tho”, carrying the hopes and dreams of all the entire alumni of the respective institutions. It’s a feeling and memory that last a life time for any player and will always carry a special place in his heart.
Catch the live action on www.thepapare.com on the 1st of November from 3.30 pm.
Royal College Squad
Haritha Gajanayake (C) – Asela Uduwaraarchchi – Insaaf Iyoob – Tahiru Gunasekara – Omila Vidanage – Naveen Jout Nikalese – Mushtaq Ramzi (GK) – Chathura Avishka – Mohomed Shasni – Sajid Haseemdeen – Mohommed Thanzeel – Mandara Mendis – Lakshan Janz – Mohammed Shakir – Kavinda Ginige – Faheem hameed – Afridi Hussain – Udishthran Raviraj – Yahiya Jaffer
Pic by Shaminda Dias
S.Thomas’ College Squad
Avantha Elapata – Devshan Jayawardena – Hadhi Jawahir – Qaaeed Huzair – Yohan Mendis – Deshan Gonawela – Akhil Fernando – Dharmalingam Abikrishna – Dinura Gunawardena – Seshan Mathangaweera – Dion Dias – K. D. Batawala – Diniru Abeysuriya – B. Gowrienanthan – Nawfleen Ahamed – R. Agarshan – J. R. Selvakumar – S. Udumalagala – A. R. Samarasinghe – M. Lindon – G. M. Joseph
