With a rich and long tradition of rugby and a history of terrific tournaments, old time rugby giants CH & FC will be determined to put up an improved season during the upcoming Dialog Rugby League 2013/14 starting from this weekend.
Last year, the boys from Maitland Crescent had a season to forget due to their lackluster performances which put them in the last place on the standings. CH & FC tasted the championship glory way back in 2000 under the leadership of Nazim Mohammed and since then have been going down the path with other teams overtaking their dominance.
Pre Season
This season CH & FC have brought few new faces to the line up with a few school leavers as well as a bit of foreign blood to steam up their chances in this highly competitive league. They will have players who represented CH & FC last year as well but a few have left the club due to various reasons. CH & FC started their training 3 months back with power training at the gymnasium and few warm up games against some formidable teams such as CR & FC (Traditional Captaincy Match) to prepare themselves for a grueling rugby season ahead. They practice 5 days a week to stir up their strengths and weaknesses. The CH & FC rugby team will be managed by CH & FC’s loyal servant Mr. Anwar Jayah. “We have had a very good pre-season work out and we did everything according to a plan. I’m quite confident about our team“ Jayah mentioned in his interview with ThePapare.com.
A Coach with a Purpose
The Rugby committee of CH & FC in their endeavour to bring their side into old habits hired the most experienced Rugby coach in the country Mr. Sanath Martis to train the inexperienced CH & FC outfit this season as Sanath Martis is known as a coach who can bring out the best in any team due to his sheer passion, brilliant tactics and commitment. Sanath Martis will be coaching a club team after a few years and it would definitely be a challenge to the master of winning.
Sanath Martis believes in hard work and he has transformed ordinary rugby teams into extraordinary rugby outfits during the recent past. Martis will be itching to continue his good track record by coaching CH & FC to a successful tournament this season “ It will be very hard for me to coach this team but we will be going match by match and hopefully we can create a few upsets on the way to the top 5. We do not have any big names with us but this group of ruggerites are determined to put up a special performance this season. “ Sanath Martis added.
Key Players
This 2013/14 season CH & FC rugby team will be led by their dynamic center three quarter Indika Udayakumara also known as ‘Lechcha’ by his team mates. Indika is a very talented utility player and he can be a very dangerous player with the ball in his hands but unfortunately for the club from Colombo 7 their regular skipper will be out of action in the first few weeks due to an injury.
Tuan Shamrock the nippy No.9 half -back of CH & FC will be giving his 100% work rate in every game and he will be a great asset to their line up. Former Ananda college fly half Dharshana Lochana will be another man to watch as he will be calling all the shots for the backline for CH & FC this season and he had a very impressive college season with his alma mater and he will be looking to transform that form into the club season. Last man on the defense will be Nalaka Kumara (Younger brother of SL 7s sensation Saliya Kumara) and he is believed to be one of the safest persons under the high ball. CH & FC will have two experienced and seasoned campaigners as their Second Row forwards in Chameendra Herath & Chanaka Bandara. CH & FC will be having two Fijian players as their play makers in key positions such as No.8 and outside Center and their presence will be very helpful for Sanath Martis and his men to have a strong season.
Strengths and Weaknesses
CH & FC’s main strength for the season will be the surprise element they bring to the other teams. They do not have big names and the other teams with big names will not be knowing the key elements in CH & FC’s game plan and it will help the Maitland Crescent club to work out their usual game plan to create few upsets during the Dialog Club Rugby 2013/14 season. Their other strength will be the creativity of their new school leavers. These new players are expected to add flair to their game and it will be a creative addition to CH & FC rugby team during this upcoming season.
CH & FC’s main weakness for the new season will be inexperience of some of their players and it will be very hard for the team to cope up with leading rugby clubs who have players who represented Sri Lanka in various tournaments and CH & FC will have no services of any Tuskers in their ranks.
Last Words
CH & FC will be challenged in many ways and they should show true character and courage to overcome those difficult obstacles during the coming rugby season. They are pitted to play their home games at Royal Sports Complex this year and hopefully they would prosper at their new home venue to have a determined and improved season.
Thepapare.com wishes CH & FC good luck for a fruitful rugby season.
Full Squad with Positions
Inzam Irfan (Prop)
Bimal Herath (Prop/Hooker)
Rifhkan Mohammed (Prop/Flanker)
Prakrama Rathnayake (Hooker)
Dilanga Rukshan (Prop/Second Row)
Chameendra Herath (Second Row)
Chanaka Bandara (Second Row)
Migara Madugalle (Flanker)
Dilan Kennady (Flanker)
Jeevan Wijethilake (Flanker/Hooker)
Ishanka Manamperi (Flanker/Second Row)
Nuwan Randima (Flanker)
Viraj Hewage (Flanker)
Nilusha Fernando (Flanker/No.8)
Niroshan Ekanayake (Flanker/No.8/Center)
Tuan Shamrock (Scrum Half)
Lahiru Prabod (Scrum Half)
Gazil Ifthikar (Scrum Half)
Dharshana Lochana (Fly Half/Center)
Prasad Perera (Fly Half)
Indika Udayakumara (Center) (CAPTAIN)
Pathum Chathuranga (Center/Winger)
Akila Jayasundara (Center/Winger)
Therun Sanoj Kumara (Center/Winger)
Ashan Indika Bandara (Center/Wing)
Diluka Weerasooriya (Winger)
Kanishka Saranga (Winger)
Ishan Eranga Rajapaksha (Winger/Full Back)
Nalaka Kumara (Full Back/Winger)
Indika Wickramanayake (Full Back)
Sanath Martis – Coach
Anwar Jayah – Manager
