People’s Bank Super Sevens Hockey tournament kicked off on 4th October and came to an end on 5th October after a successful run of two days. The tournament, sponsored by People’s Bank was organized in a grand scale by Seetha Devi Girl’s College Kandy for the 20th time.
The tournament was held at the Bogambara Stadium Kandy with a record number of 68 teams participating under four categories.
Girls’ Schools Championship
A total number of 16 girls’ schools from all parts of the island took part in the tournament. After a series of spectacular games in the first rounds, Hemamali College Kandy and St. Joseph’s College Kegalle were qualified for the Shield finals. It was a game with bated breath as Piumi Lakshika’s single goal earned the win for St. Josephs’. The ball finals between Christ Church College Matale and Vishaka College Colombo was an intense game as the game was decided on penalty stroke concluding 02-00 success for Christ Church. Viharamahadevi College Badulla with a goal by Shalani Piyumanthi beat St. Anthony’s Convent Kandy 01-00 in the Plate finals. The most awaited Cup Championship game made its outset with the reigning champions Seethadevi Girls College taking over Sangamiththa College Matale. Sangamaththa’s Sachithra Sandaruwani succeeded in bringinging them in a goal during the first half. The second half was a cliff-hanger as neither of the teams were unable to score. The game ended 00-01 Sangamiththa proceeding to annex the Championship title. Sakunthala Illapperuma of Seethadevi prevailed the Best Goalkeeper while Sachithra Sandaruwani of the victorious Sangamiththa won the Best Player award.
Boys’ Schools Championship
A total number of 32 teams partook in the contest. Maris Stella College Negombo, Nalanda College Colombo and Trinity College Kandy who portrayed a good potential during the early rounds couldn’t qualify for the finals. Zahira College and St. Benedict’s College Colombo qualified for the Shield. The game was a suspenser as the win had to be observed on a penalty stroke giving a 04-05 win for St. Benedict’s. The Bowl finals too ended on penalty stroke with Kingswood College Kandy beating Ananda College Colombo 03-01. St. Sylvester’s College carried the Plate title as their Malinda Dissanayaka’s goal surpassed St. Thomas’s College Matale in a close game. The defending champions Vijaya College Matale and Christ Church College sprang across the grass ground to conquer the championship in the Cup finals. Christ Church’s A.D Bandara and and E.D.M. Ediriweera handily and artfully scored two goals in the first half of the game. The match was indeed a thriller as the second half terminated with no goals resulting in Vijaya being routed as the master of the sticks of the Christ Church ( 00-02) earning them the championship this year. Vijaya College’s P.D. Thilakarathne was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper while A.D. Bandara of Christ Church College clinched the blue ribbon as the Best Player of the contest.
Club Championship (Men)
A total number of 16 teams featured in the tournament. The absence of defending champions Sri Lanka Air Force along with Sri Lanka Army was a notable marker. In the primary rounds, Sri Lanka Police beat Old Kingswoodians 01-00, Blue Horses defeated Maris Stella 03-00, Navy B drew with Old Trinitians 00-00 while Navy A outplayed Kotalawala Defense Academy 2-0 with only Navy A and Navy B emerged to call the shots as finalists. Double Navy teams worked off the grounds as the first half saw no goals for both teams. Second half was a real suspenser until S.K. Obeysiri and Kusal Senanayake adroitly maneuvered the ball to score two goals for Navy A in the second half. Navy A nailed the championship for them over Navy B in a 02-00 closure. J.K Rajanayake of Navy B was adjudged as the Best Goalkeeper and Kusal Senanayake of Navy A was named the Best Player.
Club Championship (Women)
The defending champions Sri Lanka Air Force was not present to defend their title this year. Sri Lanka Navy who had been champions from the inception of the competition except last year, embarked on being a front-runner in this year too. The segment of the tournament emanated an air of charge as it led off straight from the semifinals. Navy overcame Pushpadana 02-00, Pushpadana beat Army 01-00 and Seethadevi tied with Navy B 00-00 in the initial matches paving the way for Seethadevi SC and Navy to qualify for finals. The game was a hair-racer as it gained much attention of the crowd. The first half saw the end with Navy leading 00-02 with a strong battle from Seethadevi. Navy kept up their consistency in the second half recording another two goals registering their complete victory against Seethadevi SC. D.M.M. Dissanayake contributed two goals for Navy while Y.M.B. Gunarathne and W.M.C.D. Wijesuriya scored one goal each. Sri Lanka Navy excelled to bag the Women’s title with an ample 04-00 triumph. Seethadevi’s Nirmali de Silva was offered the Best Goalkeeper while Maneesha Dissanayake of Sri Lanka Navy was awarded the Best Player of the competition.
The finals and the concluding ceremony were chaired by Assistant General Manager-Central Zone, People’s Bank, R.M.S.B Rathnayake. The occasion was also graced by the Kandy Regional Manager Gamini Karunarathne and Kandy Main Branch Manager J. Welagedara of People’s Bank in the presence of the Principal of Seethadevi Girl’s College, Ms. Chandrakanthi Karunanayake. Seethadevi Girl’s College Kandy who has produced many distinguished athletes in the field of hockey was successful in organizing this massive event promoting the sport throughout the paradise island.
