In the history of Royal-Thomian’s, neither school has dominated an encounter like Royal College has done in ‘The Blue Derby’.
Simply speaking they have been invincible; in 21 encounters of the Football Encounter Royal have lost only once while drawing thrice. The School by the Sea ended Royal’s unbeaten streak when Ashwin Dias led them to a 2-1 win in 2009. In 2008 and 2012 the Thomians came close to a victory but were beaten on penalties.
Season thus far
S.Thomas’ College made the perfect beginning to their 2015 season winning the Divisionals. The Thomians won the semi-final 3-0 defeating Lalith Athulathmudali College and the final defeating Science College 1-0.
The side also participated in the FFSL Futsal tournament at Austasia Sports Complex to defend the title which they won last year. They lived upto it, though they lost the final 3-1 to S.Peter’s College, after winning the first round matches against Jaffna Central (5-0), TAFA Academy (5-1) and S.Joseph’s (1-0), while winning the semifinal 4-0 against St.Henry’s College, Jaffna.
The Thomians are participating in the Kotmale Chox U19 Schools Football Championship where they have lost just one match from the three group stage matches they have played so far. They won 6-1 against Dharmaraja College and 3-1 against Maliyadeva College while losing 2-1 to the strong Peterite outfit consisting of six National U19 players. They came from 2-1 down in the first half to thump Lumbini College 5-2 in the final match before the Derby to all but secure the quarter final berth in the tournament.
“Compared to last season, when I took charge the team has shown great improvement. They have shown commitment and enthusiasm to learn and improve which has done wonders,” Sri Lanka football legend and Head Coach of S.Thomas’ R.M.U.Mahindapala added.
“The side is on a winning mentality which is great for the morale and also more juniors are coming up the ranks,” he added.
Compared to the Thomians Royal has had a mixed season performing in patches but are on a winning note in the build-up. Like the Thomians, Royal started the season winning the Divisionals final 1-0 against Ananda College. Having qualified for the Zonals they defeated Isipathana College on penalties but were defeated by Zahira College also on penalties in the semi-final. The third place match was won again on penalties defeating St.Benedict’s College.
In the FFSL Futsal tournament at Austasia Sports Complex Royal won the Plate Championship defeating St.Joseph’s College ‘B’ 3-2. In the group stages they lost 3-1 to St.Peter’s College while winning 2-0 against Jaffna Central and defeated St.Joseph’s College ‘A’ 4-1 in the Plate semi-final.
Royal College had a disastrous Kotmale Chox U19 Schools Football Championship where they were knocked out of the group stage with three straight losses. In the opening encounter they lost 5-0 to Zahira while St.Servatius’ and Holy Cross defeated them 2-1 and 2-0 respectively.
However Royal defeated Mahinda College 2-0 in the 1st leg of the Albert Edirisinghe Trophy with both goals coming from Naveen Jude and were runners-up at the 11th Zahira Super 16 Soccer 7s after being defeated on penalties by Maris Stella College. Royal beat St.Benedict’s College 2-0 in the quarter final and the star studded Peterites 1-0 in the semi-final.
“We have been practicing hard. We weren’t ready for Chox tournament because few of our players were fasting during that period but that is not an excuse to not perform well. Our recent performances have been good. They are good and we don’t take the Thomians easy,” Royal Captain Tahiru Gunasekara added to ThePapare.com before the big game.
Naveen v Akhil
One key battle will be between Royal’s Naveen Jude and the Thomians’ Akhil Fernando in midfield. Both Sri Lanka U19 caps know each other very well and the outcome of this battle will have a huge influence in the final result.
Naveen Jude who plays for Champions League side Java Lane is an attack minded player while Akhil who plays Java Lane’s rivals Renown SC will look to gain control of the midfield and distribute the ball to his potent strikers in Deshan Gonawela and Yohan Mendis.
Naveen will be assisted by Saajid Haseemdeen and Dion Dias will stabilize the work done by Akhil and add another attacking option up-front.
Thomians forwards v Royal defense
The two sets of forwards and defense are experienced in schools football but the center back pairing of Chathura Avishka and Captain Tahiru Gunasekara having the edge after keeping a clean sheet in last year’s encounter which Royal won 3-0.
Thomian Captain Deshan Gonawela and his deputy Yohan Mendis who are on goal scoring form will want to put behind their horror finishing from last year. Yohan Mendis is the third highest goal scorer in the Kotmal Chox U19 tournament with 7 goals and Gonawela has four to his name.
Royal College Squad
Tahiru Gunasekera – Musthaq Ramzi – Sajid Haseemdeen – Chathura Avishka – Naveen Jude – Mohamed Thanzeel – Omila Vidanage – Sarvesh Yogendran – Harindu Abeysuriya – Sakun Divyanga – Fazil Farook – Faheem Hameed – Ranjan Gogulandas – Sithum Vidanagamage – Afridi Hussain – Kavinda Ginige – Suhaib Muzammil – Yasith Nirmal – Mahumood Infaz – Kolitha Hansajith
S.Thomas’ College Squad
Deshan Gonawela – Yohan Mendis – Akhil Fernando – Dion Dias – Dinura Gunawardena – Mario Perera – Sahith Dewagiri – Nawfleen Ahamed – Jonny Selvakumar – Dharmalingam Abikrishna – Evan De Silva – Devishan Anton – Agarshan Rajendran – Tharik Jawahir – Seshan Mathangaweera – Ajith Puvanendran – Sasika Jayasuriya – Avishka Samarasinghe – Tehan Bastians – Meshach Joseph – Jiovani Kanagasundram – Thevin Eriyagama – Asel Siriwardena – Dinil Gonawela –
