P. D. Sirisena was one of the soccer greats

LESLIE FERNANDO

P. D. Sirisena, the present Director, Technical of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka was one of the outstanding soccerites that Sri Lanka had produced. Former Sri Lanka, Maradana Central, Colombo Municipality, Bank of Ceylon and Saunders SC soccer captain is no doubt one of the best soccer players and an excellent coach.

Ground in his honour

P. D. Sirisena

To honour him, President Ranasinghe Premadasa named a ground in his honour. P. D. Sirisena playground in Maligawatte area and it is maintained by the Colombo Municipal Council.

Pattiniya Durage Sirisena, the 69 years old shone like a bright star from 1960 to 1972. Then retired and took up to coaching. For nearly three decades ‘Sira’ has been a soccer coach and has produced several junior players of high calibre.

Since his playing days his ambition was to get trained as soccer coach and he went to Holland and was successful.

Sirisena was capped for Ceylon 35 times in seven years, skippered the country seven times, played abroad 10 times and was invited to play for a continental club AVC Heracles of Holland in ‘A’ division league championships in Holland and also for their European Cup team in the following championships. He was the first Ceylonese player to play in competitive soccer in the continent.

‘Sira’ is a product of playground movement. He started playing soccer for Price Park from his younger days. Then at Central College, Maradana he represented the school for six years and captained the side. He was a nippy forward, left inside and helped the college to become all-island schools soccer championships for many years.

Home of Saunders

He lived close to Price Park the home of Saunders SC and helped him to take up to big time soccer. In 1956 as a schoolboy he first played for Saunders SC.

In the 1960 CFA Cup tournament, Sirisena scored a total of 24 goals in 6 games. In the Gold Cup semi-final against Colpetty United in 1960 he set up a record netting all 5 goals. Saunders SC beat Colpetty United 5-4.

He had the distinction of being capped for Ceylon in 1960, as a schoolboy against Zenith FC from Russia at the Government Services Sports Club grounds at Parsons Road. Despite losing 2-5 Sirisena came off with top performances with his dribbling skills and both goals were scored through his clever passes. Both goals were struck by skipper Peter Ranasinghe a soccerite par excellence.

He scored two fine goals against West German Fortuna Dusselldorf in 1961 and Ceylon was able to hold the visitors to a 2-all draw. Another highlight in ‘Sira’s’ career was the goal scored against the famous West German team in 1963.

Dettmar Kramer the West German coach praised Sirisena for his excellent goal in this match. Sirisena has represented Ceylon at several international matches in India, Pakistan, Israel, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand and also have played here against several foreign sides.

Outstanding players

He has played along with outstanding players (to name a few), Peter Ranasinghe, Mahinda Aluvihare, Lionel Peiris, Edward Wickremasooriya, Hashim Deen, M. A. Ameer, M. Zainulabdeen, K. A. Premadasa, T. J. Azeez, B. Ahmed.

Sirisena first started working at the Colombo Municipality as a Playground Instructor 1961-1962, then at Bank of Ceylon from 1963 to 1976.

He has accompanied Sri Lanka national teams several times as the coach. Sirisena also held the position as the national soccer coach.

For Saunders SC as a player and later as coach ‘Sira’ has brought honour and glory. During his coaching period Saunders SC lifted the highest number of major trophies. He has guided Saunders SC to win soccer plum the FA Cup for a record time.

He is a very happy and proud person because several Sri Lanka players were from that glamour club, Saunders SC. ‘Sira’ is yet the boss of Saunders SC. But his son Manjula Sirisena, presently employed at Lake House and also represented Sri Lanka at soccer in several international matches is the Saunders SC coach. Manjula was also coached by his father Sirisena.

Sirisena who continues to support his forte - soccer.