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| Wednesday, 4 August 2004 |
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That kicking legend Bagoos Sourjah Baba Bagoos Sourjah, the Police and All Ceylon soccerite turned rugby player who brought many victories for the Police from the jaws of defeat is to be honoured by the Committee of the Management of Police Rugby with the blessings of the Inspector General of Police, Indra de Silva. In 1963, it was a 55 - yard kick that started his rugby career. He was spotted and inducted to the Police rugby team when he made that conversion at a Police Inter Divisional Rugby match. Not stopping at that, he went on to make the headlines in the local rugby scene hitherto dominated by the much-fancied club sides with cream of local talent and overseas players working in Colombo. His amazing place kicking made all the difference. The most memorable of all took place in the evening of 18th August 1967 at Havelock Park. It was the semi finals of the Clifford Cup knock-out match between the reigning champions, CR and FC and the underdogs, Police, who were selected to play in the KO tourney by virtue of being the 'B' division champions (unbeaten). The scores at the long blast were 6 all. In the extra time, a CR player was blown being offside in a scrum that was awarded to Police near the 45 yards in the CR territory. Sourjah gleefully accepted the ball from skipper S. Siverdran, who said; "Today you are going to create history for the Police and yourself". Sourjah in his customary cool placed the ball amidst pin drop silence and converted the penalty dead center in the fading light. The following day saw the headlines "Police topple the CR and FC, excellent kicking by Sourjah", "Sourjah kicks Police into finals", Sourjah the hero of the Police". The cup holders CR and FC was ousted from the finals and the Police joined the select band of the A division rugby the following year and those words of encouragement of skipper Sivendran to Sourjah proved correct, which really led to the foundation of Police rugby. The following year on 29th April 1968, on the same ground, Sourjah made yet another outstanding display, This time by executing a magnificent drop goal almost during the last minute of the game to bring the scores level at 6 all, against the Clifford Cup holders, the Havelock Sports Club. The Chairman of Police Rugby, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nimal Lewke, the Committee, has invited Bagoos Sourjah to be the Chief Guest at the rugby match between the Police S.C. and the CH and FC, on 6th August 2004, at the Police Park. The main ceremony is to take place at the Senior Police Officers Mess after the rugby match, where Bagoos Sourjah will be honoured and also be a beneficiary. This worthy cause has received tremendous praise from the former rugby stalwarts of Police and the clubs, who are in fact willing to be a part the whole show. This moment will no doubt reminisce the past glories of Police rugby. |
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