Bid to improve Zahira's rugby standard

RUGBY: The Group of sixty of the Zahira College old Boys Union has launched a project to improve the standard of rugby at Zahira in all age groups and make the school's first XV a force to be reckoned with in 'A' Division rugby.

Zahira College which started playing rugby before the Second World War was a force to be reckoned with in schools rugby till the 1970's but during the last two decades their rugby standard declined much to the dismay of their supporters.

Zahira College which has a proud rugby history has produced several ruggerites who have gone onto represent Sri Lanka with distinction. Among them are Kuthdoos Dorey, A. H. A. Samad, Nalim Saleem, Abdul Majeed, Ibrahim 'Tanker' Hamid and Omar Sheriff. In recent years Hafeel Marso, Azad Junkeer, Rizan Saldin, M. J. Mushtaq and Kishore Jehan too donned the national jersey. The greatest of them all was Abdul Majeed who went onto lead Sri Lanka against the All England team led by Budge Rogers in 1971.

Zahira produced its best rugby in the sixties. In 1962, Zahira became the school champions beating Trinity, Royal, St. Peter's and several other schools and in the same year Zahira beat almost all the clubs it played against including Havelocks and CR and FC.

The team was coached by A.H.A. Samad and Marhoom M. H. Muhlhar and players like Abdul Majeed, Ibrahim Hamid and Saleem Naleem were members of this great team.

After the sixties, standards at Zahira have unfortunately declined in sports as well as in education.

However, even in the seventies and thereafter, Zahirian rugby was not without moments of glory. In 1998 Zahira, ably led by Riaz Anis, clinched the President's Trophy. Recent achievements would show that rugger at Zahira is certainly improving.

At the All Island Rugby Sevens Bowl, Zahira ended as Champions in early February 2006 and at the Singer All Island League Tournament 2006 Zahira was promoted from C segment to B segment in the 'A' Division thereby giving them the opportunity of playing against the top schools.

Another achievement was Zahira emerging as the semi finalists at the recently concluded Singer/SriLankan Airlines International Tournament. These victories clearly show that there is no dearth of talent in Zahira, and if guided properly and well supported, there is no doubt that Zahira can regain its rugby glory and produce champion teams in the future.

The President of the Group of Sixty, Saleem Marsoof says that rugby is not just a game for those with strength and courage but rugby sense and intelligence does play a major role in shaping up victory.

Dr. Neville Edirisinghe, who captained Zahira in 1960 is a shining example who bears testimony to the fact that playing rugby develops one's mind as much as his body, as he went on to become a UN expert on nutrition.

The point is that rugby helps one to make quick decisions and in fact develops intelligence, and is a game for all. As such the Group of 60' in its efforts to develop rugby at Zahira, has concentrated on sports as well as education.