Marija tipped to lead Kandy SC next year

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Corr

The 135th Annual General Meeting of Kandy Sports Club will be held at the club house at Nittawela in Kandy on December 6 (Sunday) commencing at 10.30 a.m.

Kandy Sports Club are the crowned 'Kings of Rugby' in Sri Lanka winning most of the championship in which they participated since 1992, the year of their reckoning when they turned around their fortunes from 'Whiz Kids' to 'Challengers' giving the other clubs the type of opposition they hardly met in the past.

The record is that they have won the Clifford Cup League championship for nine years in a row and the Caltex Clifford Cup knock out championship 15 times and have not tasted defeat in this tournament since 1998.

Their record at Nittawela is quite impressive having not lost a match during last five years. They have dominated the game in the country to such an extent having been triple champions for many years including last year.

Sri Lanka's Sevens Skipper and automatic choice to the national team in both versions of the game old Kingswoodian and stand off Fazil Marija is likely to be the nominee as captain and almost all the players from the last year's team will be available.

But can Kandy SC continue their winning streak is another question as other clubs are gearing themselves to meet this challenge from the doughty Kandyans. You can reach the top but it is not easy to remain in top all the time, though Kandy Sports Club has on many occasions has proved this dictum wrong.

It will be left to be seen whether there will be changes at the top tough there has been many whispers in close circles.

Former Sri Lanka flanker Iswan Omar is likely to retain his position as President or even may revert to his pet position as General Secretary. The final position will be known only on Sunday.