“I promised that I’ll lead this team to FA Cup glory and I’ve kept my promise,” a beaming Rawmy Mohideen, Captain of Colombo FC looked at me and said.
The joy on his face was undeniable, yet it wasn’t as exuberant as his younger teammates, for this was not the first time the legendary Sri Lankan midfielder has won this iconic trophy. Six times he has come to the FA Cup final and six times he has walked away with the trophy, five times against Ratnam SC and this time with Colombo FC – all as the Captain. Winning FA Cups is like a walk in the park for Rawmy Mohideen though he would smile at the mere mention of it.
Colombo FC was started less than a decade ago –in 2008 and since then had only won Division III Championship while becoming Division II and Division I runner-up. Recently, in the 2014 season they were again runners-up in the Champions League, the second season Rawmy had been the captain.
In the other semifinal Colombo FC managed to avenge last season’s defeat at the hands of Army with another penalty win. They won 4-2 on penalties after it also ended in 1-1. Colombo FC survived a brutal assault by Keteriyans while leading 1-0 in the ‘last 32’ round and won on penalties against Java Lane 4-3 after it ended 1-1 in regular time in the pre-quarters. In the quarter final they swept away 20 times champions Saunders SC 4-2 with late goals.
In the pre-final press conference Rawmy added they came close last season and now this time as they had come to the final, they are determined to go all the way. “This team can do it. They 
have the motivation and a very good coach in Roomy,” he added then.
Apart from Rawmy and Coach Mohamed Roomy the Colombo FC side had little or no experience in a big final situation.
“Apart from Rawmy all others are young and have no big final experience. However no need to worry because they have played good matches throughout this competition and I think they are matured enough to take this one. Blue Star will come in their numbers and that pressure is also there but I have told my men to motivate each other during match.” A confident Mohamed Roomy, Colombo FC coach added just before final kickoff.
Coming into the final Rawmy had been used scarcely – he was ineffective and substituted just after halftime in the quarter final and semifinal, with questions about his age and fitness. However everything changed in the second half of the final. In the first half, Colombo FC were overrun by Blue Star in the midfield with Roomy’s ploy of putting Rawmy as a striker proving ineffective. In the second half Rawmy was brought back to his favoured holding midfield position and Colombo FC started to dictate terms and soon got the winning goal. Roomy had confidence in Rawmy and played him throughout the 90 minutes. The veteran brought all his experience to inspire this young Colombo FC side.
“In the second half I rectified my mistake from the first half. It was in midfield. I put Frank forward and Rawmy in midfield because Frank did not deliver what I expected. Rawmy played brilliantly in the second half,” Roomy added after the match.
“His experienced showed because the only guy who had played in front of crowds like these is Rawmy, I motivated him before the match to inspire the others. He proved it today.”
