M.J.M. Mushtaq, one of the best wingers that Zahira College has produced, is set to be the man in charge of the national U18 sevens team.
He captained his College team in the year 1997 and since then represented CR&FC for almost a decade. He was just a teenager when he was selected to play for Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Games 1998 where he fulfilled a life-long dream of playing against the great Jonah Lomu.
Mushtaq also represented the country in the IRB World 7s series in Dubai and South Africa in 2004 while also representing the national XV’s outfit at Asian 5nations tournaments. Since his retirement he has been involved in both coaching and refereeing in the schools’ and clubs’ rugby arena.
After being the backs coach for CR&FC at the most recently concluded season, he has gotten the opportunity to groom young talent for the upcoming Asian schools’ U18 sevens tournament in Hong Kong.
Speaking to ThePapare.com Mushtaq said “It is a great privilege and honour for me to coach these young talents. The SLRFU is supporting (the game) because sevens is now an Olympic sport, so more focus is given which is a positive sign. We will make the final selections on 11th July and we hope to train well and do well in Hong Kong”
The U18 team will travel to Hong Kong on the 21st of July for the tournament which will take place on the 23rd and 24th.
