‘Where’s my jersey?’, ‘Did u clean my boots?’ Did u sew my garters?’ Did you make the Perital and Jeevanee drink bottles? and many more orders they shall demand.
Being a sister to three Royal Rugby Players is no joke and it’s more like a full time job. Well its not like I am complaining, I enjoy this whole scenario. It was all worth and A sight to warm the cockles of my heart and get my adrenaline pumping is to watch the ball sailing through the air and bisecting the post when my big Aiyah Omar now playing for CH kicks a penalty or to watch Bilal smash through a cordon of defenders to score a try, or to admire Hamza marshalling his troops and leading them in the Royal Under 17 games. Since I am a sister, daughter and niece to Royal Rugby players, there is no debate about “Why my passion is Royal Rugby.”
Being a sister to 3 ruggerites has its abnormal effects on me and my outlook.The problem is you end up being such a huge nutty fan. Writing “Royal College or Royal Rugby” on every surface or going all crazy during matches. In school, I have turned all my friends towards Royal, and away from Trinity. My class table(OK and many others ) are full of slogans like “Loyal to Royal”. My room has a small model of a goal post with last years Bradby score on it. The Bradby tickets are pasted on my door , well the other match tickets are also there along with the fixture card( I cant wait to show this to my brothers children). One day me and my friends sang in the middle of our school grounds, the chorus of the Royal College Anthem and after that we had a small R O Y A L and all that( you must be wondering how my friends know the song, well let me say I have taught them well.)
Anyway the main focus of my topic is Bradby. So let me get to it. A month before the Bradby, the fever strikes our house. The count down begins about 3 weeks before. My sister insists that we go get blue and yellow ‘Kits’ for the event. I must say that my Aiyahs get most of the Attention during this time of the year.
The Event that makes the Bradby more interesting is the bus ride from here to Kandy, going with all my dad’s team mates is fun besides I get to know all about my dad’s wonderful behaviour when he was young, in the back row of the bus Mendis and his papare band belts out tune after tune and you can hear the high spirited uncles crack dirty jokes which I fail to understand I might add. I can faintly hear them talk about their crazy school days and then I can hear someone saying ‘Epa machang my wife is here’ then I say to myself “So its not only the present Royal ruggerites who are crazy.”
I must add that we have frequent pit stops for our uncles to relieve themselves and replenish diminishing stocks to continue their very high spirits. We have a rollicking time on this 5 to 6 hour bus trip.
Entering the Royal Complex on the day of the Colombo Bradby is like entering a whole new world. Let me reminisces about some moments of last years Bradby that I cherish. I remember when everyone was anxiously waiting for our Boy’s to come out onto the field, I heard them before I saw them, the crunching noise of boot studs on the cement floor (the noise is music to my ears)The Team then walked out wearing those beautiful blue and gold colours and then you can virtually feel and touch the tension and anticipation in the atmosphere and the level of noise keeps rising till it breaks into a cresando when the boys run in. It is a emotional and warming sight to see 23 hulking boys with their hands on their heart over the College crest singing the College song with such passion and Intensity in their eyes which reminded you of the Roman Gladiators preparing to slay the lions in the Coliseum.(well our boys do slay the Trinity Lions)
The other moment I cherished is when Manil our Dynamic Captain went up to collect the Bradby shield, I felt joy as if had achieved the most Important goal in my life. Oh all these moments really makes me believe in the phrase, “the best things in life are free.”
After the match everyone just congratulates the best played team (normally Royal) .
It was an exceptionally rewarding day for me as my Bilal Aiyyah had scored in both the Bradby games and Hamza Aiyyah had captained the under 17 and led them to the biggest comeback victory of the Summithiarachi Trophy.. Even if we lose, nothing is lost as such ,because the game of Rugby and the tradition of the Bradby shield is always a winner, bonds were made stronger and another historical event has taken place. The joy of the task has outweighed the outcome. As usual after the match is over, I try to look for my brothers to give them the hug they deserve much to their embarrassment and annoyance. Last year, my mum was so happy to see all my 3 brothers play for Royal . I was proud of them, so was the rest of my family. The Bradby brings happiness to the hearts of men women ,children Royalists Trinitians or others, Even E L Bradby and Web Ellis are smiling and shaking hands up in the heavens and saying “Hey I guess we did create something useful” (Well that’s what my vivid imagination thinks.)
My biggest nagging concern and worry is that next year 2009 will be the last year that I will be involved and participate in the pre Brabdy preparations as it will be the final year for the youngest of my 3 Aiyahs to play for Royal. I have a solution to my dilemma as I intend to become a teacher and join the staff of Royal College to become the first teacher in charge of Royal Rugby (Come on! everyone is allowed to go for their dreams!)
To all those 23 wearing the Blue Gold and Blue”I wish you all the luck in the world” and to those having that extra stripe of red “Back off!!! the shield is ours this year”
To all the sisters of Royal Rugby players present past and in the Future let me say I can Empathize with you and isn’t it great!!! To be a Royal rugby Sister.
May the Bradby which brings so much Joy, Happiness and Camaraderie live on for ever and ever…….
