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| Saturday, 5 April 2003 |
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Com. Bank wins hockey treble by Chris Dhambarage The Commercial Bank hockey team had the honour of winning all three 'A' division tournaments conducted by the Mercantile Hockey Association. They first clinched the seven-a-side tournament defeating arch rivals and the star studded Hatton National Bank team in the finals. They continued their success in the league and knockout tournaments too to win the Horlicks Trophy and the Hatna Trophy. This was the first time that Commercial Bank had won three titles in the field of hockey. A unique feature of their success was that no team was able to score a single goal against them in any of the three championships. Another reason for their tremendous success was their excellent teamwork, determination and hard work. Their style of play was a cynosure of all eyes where they opted to a passing game rather than the individual style of play. The team was captained by former Royalist centre half Manuja Gunawardena who has represented the Mercantile Hockey Association teams in both junior and senior nationals. He has also represented the Sri Lanka 'A' side at the Nehru Cup hockey tournament in 1997, Asia Cup in 1999 in Kuala Lumpur and is a current national poolist. Sumith Jayasena was one of their many dual purpose players in the side capable of playing in any position. He has represented the Mercantile Hockey Association in the junior and senior nationals and toured Malaysia, Thailand and India with the Mercantile Hockey Association. Jayasena captained the Mercantile Hockey Association team at the junior nationals in 1997. Their leading goal scorer in all three tournaments was Pradeep Heenkenda who represented Sri Lanka at the Nehru tournament in 1997. In the fullback position was former Matale Thomian Asitha Senanayake who was a member of the Mercantile Hockey association team for several years. Ravindra Elahena was another prolific goal scorer in the tournaments and he has represented Sri Lanka at the Junior Asia Cup in 1996. Former Royalist Damitha Silva is another player who impressed in the championships with his steady defence. Together with the other halfback Nuwan Subasinghe, fullbacks Roshan Perera, Migara Tillekeratne and Aruna Rathnaweera the Commercial Bank defence stood firm throughout the series. Among the forwards Sandun Gajanayake stole the limelight with his dribbling skills and together with Marlon de Alwis, Thisila Herath, Suranga Wedamulla, Thilina Kulathunga all produced a grand display of fast open hockey. Another noteworthy achievement was that their custodian Harshika Fernando was adjudged as the best goal keeper at the sevens tournament and was a tower of strength to the team. The stand-by goal keeper was Wasim Ameen and the team was coached by Rohan Dissanayake. |
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