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| Wednesday, 8 October 2003 |
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Thomian waterpolo team excels in India The Thomian waterpolo team comprising 21 players returned to the island on the 03rd of this month after a 11-day tour of Kerala, India. As a precursor to their hectic tour, the team had the opportunity to take part in three friendly matches. Two against the Kerala State, and one against the Kerala Development Squad. They also followed a four-day waterpolo workshop conducted by the Indian national coach. The first match was played on the 26th against Kerala State, the leading State for Waterpolo in India. The Kerala team comprised a number of national players. From the first whistle the Thomians found it very hard to adjust to the powerful Indian shots and fast breaks. The Indians scored first and continued to score at a rapid rate. The goal scorers for the Thomians were Thanura Abeyawardena, Dakshitha Thamanegama and Lasitha Perera, with a goal each. The quarter scores were 3-1, 6-2, 9-3, 11-3. The second match was played against the Kerala Development Squad, which was a much younger side compared with the Kerala State team. Rajeevan Nagaraja opened the scoring for college. The scores as at the end of each quarter were 3-2, 6-3, 7-3, 9-5, with the Thomians leading throughout. They adjusted to the game and succeeded in giving the Indians a very hard time in the water. The goal scorers were Thanura Abeyawardena (3 goals) Rajeevan Nagaraja, Danushka Saram, Dakshitha Thamanegama, Nishantha Fernando, Lasitha Perera and Danushka Gunerathne with a goal each. The final match was played against the Kerala state team. The team was extremely focused on this game and prepared with a different approach, formulated during the long meetings they had with the Indian National Coach. Dhanushka Saram opened the score with a superb perimeter shot. It was a hard fought game as both teams found it an irksome task to find the goal. It was indeed a spectacular display of skill, with shots taken from all parts of the pool. The Thomians played to their full potential and finally emerged victorious, displaying firm "Thomian Grit" all the way, the scores as at the end of each quarter were 3-3, 6-4, 8-6. Danushka Saram was the man of the match scoring three valuable goals. The other goal scorers were, Thanura Abeyawardena with 2 goals, Rajeevan Nagaraja, Dilshan Fernando and Nishantha Fernando with a goal each. The team gained a vast amount of knowledge and beneficial exposure through this tour. But the highlight of the tour was the surfacing of a huge amount of buried potential which has undoubtedly boosted the confidence of the team. For a school team to take on the likes of a club itself is an achievement; but to defeat the leading state of a vast country such as India is a prestigious accolade just as it is unbelievable. The team was ably coached by Nawaff Mubarak and Gihan de Chikera (Old boys and former coloursmen). Julian Bowling was the co-ordinator of the tour. We would like to make special mention that Philip Amarasinghe as the Master-in-Charge, has continued to encourage the boys to reach greater heights in the field of waterpolo. |
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