A ball flies straight up, as it descends a player outside the court runs towards it, launches himself up and alters the course of the ball towards the opposite side.
A player of the opposite side boldly stretchesout his arms for the receival. The ball slams onto his arms and bounces back up. A player sets the ball for a spike, an attacker jumps above the net and as he send s the ball speeding towards the opposite side the forward defense acts up. The defenders launch themselves up with their arms raised in order to block the attack…
This is just another day of their normal practice.
PasinduGunarathna and his team goes through this routine every day. 15 minutes of exercise and stretching 3 hours of practice. They’ve all given and still give their fullest support to this energetic game, not as individuals but as a team.
Volleyball is a game in which you not only score points through your skills but also a game that you give points to the opponents through your mistakes. Mr. NalinSampath, a national team player, the head coach of Royal Volleyball makes sure that the teams’ mistakes and weak points are minimum. Thanks to his excellent coaching our team has won many tournaments in district and also zonal level.
The 9th Blue, Gold & Blue western provincial volleyball tournament was held recently and our U19 team emerged victorious revealing their true talents. 3 sets of 5 was won by our team, each set 25-19 against De Mazanod College. If they continue to win all tournaments in such a way they will be able to bring back the glory of Royal Volleyball back.
Down memory lane…
Volleyball was introduced to college in the late 70’s but it has no written records of that period. As volleyball gradually developed in college the first volleyball team of Royal College was formed in 1982. The captain of that period had been Mr. Nimal Wijenayake. As the sport eventually came to be official the first master in charge was appointed; Mr. P. W. Indradewa. As the team started playing at many tournaments the first trophy was won; the Lumbhini trophy in 1985 under the captaincy of Mr. Upali Wijenayake. The vice-captain was Mr. Ashoka Wijenayake. He later played for the Junior National Team in 1986/87 and also represented the National pool in 1990. The Wijenayake brothers had played a main role in uplifting the standards of Royal volleyball and bringing many trophies to college. AshokaWijenayake’s above mentioned achievements and Thusith De Costa’s achievement of representing the junior national team in 1990 are considered the highest ever achievements of Royal College volleyball players so far.
In 1989 the team qualify for the semi-finals of the Rupavahini Invitation Schools Volleyball Championship and in 1990 they emerge as the Colombo district U19 champions. That year 4 players were awarded colours for the first time in volleyball history of royal college. In 1991, they secured a semifinal berth in National Schools Volleyball Championship.
10 years ago (2005) the Royal College Volleyball Club was established and in the year 2011, in collaboration with the Royal College Union, the Royal College Volleyball Advisory and Management Committee was formed. The committee’s advice and the financial assistance the team had received up to now, is remarkable. Almost all volleyball tournament organized by college would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the committee. The valuable help and advice of the current master in charge, Mr. A. C. M. Jiffry, is also highly regarded.
