Sylvestrians hockey carnival on Saturday and Sunday

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

Sixty eight teams including two junior hockey teams from India which had won the all India Junior titles will participate at the third Sylvestrians seven a side Hockey Carnival organised by the Old Boys Association of St. Sylvester's College, Kandy which will be worked off at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy on November 29 and 30 (Saturday/Sunday) with play commencing at 8.30 a.m. on both days.

This was disclosed by the General Secretary of the St. Sylvester's College Old Boys Association G. G. Dharmaratne at a press briefing held at Paivas Hotel in Kandy. Former Kandy District and National hockey player and present Playgrounds Chief of Kandy Municipal Council Kelum Shanthasiri will be the Tournament Director.

Dharmaratne that this tournament had to be postponed a couple of times due to other tournaments being conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association and the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation.

They also ran into difficulties in finding sponsors for this tournament due to the current tradition conditions and they finally decided to conduct this tournament come what may against all odds.

Dharmaratne said that this hockey carnival which provides a colourful atmosphere with school bands in attendance will be conducted in segments for schools - girls and boys under 18, inter club for men and women and veterans over 40 years tournament. Last time the Kingswood College won the tournament for boys while Seetha Devi BV won the tournament for girls. The tournament for clubs was won by CH & FC while the tournament for veterans was won by Police SC.

Adding colours and strong competition for this year's tournament will be two teams from Uttar Pradesh in India who were all India champions in the junior tournament.

They will field two teams one in the tournament for girls giving the local champions Seetha Devi BV a stiff competition and also another in the tournament for clubs.

Dharmaratne said that the trophies which will be on offer are OBA President's trophy (boys under 19). M. I. M. Anver Memorial trophy (girls under 19), Brigadier Cyril Ranatunga trophy, Nimal Lewke Challenge trophy, and Rev. Fr. Robert Perera Memorial trophy.

Dharmaratne added that this idea of a Hockey Carnival was first mooted seven years ago but to various problems it got off the launching pad only five years ago due to various unforeseen problems. They were also the first Club to organise a tournament for Veterans over 40 years who were a forgotten lot.

The Chief Guests at the opening ceremony will be the President of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation SSP Sumith Edirisinghe and DIG General Province Pujitha Jayasundera and Mayor L. B. Aluwihare. The Chief Guest at the closing ceremony will be Ishak Sahabdeen - a double International produced by St. Sylvester's College who played cricket and hockey for the country.

Also gracing the occasion will be Ranil Meetiyagoda Principal, St. Sylvester's College and Malcolm Perera - Manager Coaching, Sri Lanka Cricket and President of the St. Sylvester's College Old Boys Association.