Nizar Haji Omar - An Irreplaceable Human Being

June 22, 2009 was a black day in my life, when I lost my good friend, brother, and mentor Haji to fate and God's will. Life is so fragile that we have to accept our fate, learn to live for the day and move on.

Haji was a legend of RUGBY, the game he loved and breathed. He first represented St. Peters in 1962/63 and went on to play for CR & FC commencing in 1965 and continued for 10 years as the most feared lose head prop forward. His partner in crime in the front row was D.V.P. Samarasekera who he played with for 10 years excepting for one match in 1971.

He first captained Sri Lanka before captaining CR (1970), was the first Sri Lankan captain of an Asiad in 1969/1970. He went on to play in three consecutive Asiads.

He was the youngest President of CR & FC, taking the helm at the age of 36, the youngest President of the SLRFU (38), and eventually was named a life member and Trustee of the CR & FC. He also was the Manager of the "Bowl" winning Sri Lankan team led by Hisham Abdeen at the Hongkong Sevens', which is the only team in Sri Lankan Rugby history to-date to win an international trophy outside Sri Lanka. He was about to be appointed as a Life Member of the SLRFU, but sadly his demise came first.

He was my rock at the CR & FC, and his contribution in the last 4 years to CR rugby, serving in his capacity as the Trustee and Honorary Life Member on the General Committee was indispensable. Haji was the "in between" the old and the new and managed to balance the needs of both with his charm and diplomatic self.

Haji wanted me to be the President of the Club much earlier than this year, and we talked about it in length where I knew I had to spend more time building the club and bringing in the necessary skill and people prior to taking over.

All the aspirations I have for the CR was always double checked with him prior to going into motion, and there were times where he admonished me saying "Jehan, this is not the time".

Haji was an immensely private person, sharing little of his issues with anyone. I know he has helped numerous people anonymously and never asked anything in return. He had so many friends and relatives that it confused me to no end. His years without Linda was of colossal pain, and I know without doubt, other than his daughters Ayesha, Nadia and maybe two or three others, no one knew or bothered to check up with him or check up on him as to what he was going through.

Our final days at the CR were taking a picture of the General Committee of 2009 on Thursday 18th and I was honored that I could sit in the same row as he did. After the picture was taken, he told me JC, one with you and me.

Haji was there for me in my darkest hour and days, May thru September 2008 as I was there for him in his darkest times, after Linda's death.

Linda was his life, and he only chugged on because of Ayesha and Nadia, his precious jewels.

Haji, may your soul rest in peace, I will miss you immensely like no other and I will miss those Yala trips to Panthera.

The CR will not be the same to me anymore! The grave stone on my fathers' grave reads as "Resting with my Beloved in My father's house" - it is most appropriate too for Linda and Haji.

To quote his brother Razak last evening, "It is Allah's call".

Jehan Canagaretna

President - CR & FC