Matale hockey’s finest moment

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports correspondent

It was Matale’s finest moment in hockey when Matale Hockey Club beat star studded Water and Power Development Authority from Pakistan 3-2 in a league hockey match of the 4th Asian Inter-Club Hockey Championship organised by the Asian Hockey Federation and the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation and played at the Nandamithra International Hockey Stadium in Matale during the week. At half time Matale Hockey Club led 3-0.

It was one of the most-memorable moments in hockey when a local team beat a star studded foreign club which had in its ranks four players from the Olympic team of Pakistan. These players included the legendary forward Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahamed, Waqar Sheriff and Rehan Butt. It must be noted that Sohail Abbas is one of the finest players produced by Pakistan and the world has seen. An automatic choice to the Pakistan national hockey team and has scored 390 goals for his country at international level and known for his deadly scoop off penalty corners which has left the opposing custodian baffled by the speed and direction.

This victory brought Matale its greatest moments since that day bus magnate the late George Mant introduced this game with the curved stick in the forties and since it has been called the cradle of hockey.

The match itself was played at a furious pace and the Matale team stunned the visiting team with their power packed play for which they never bargained for. Matale ran into an earlier lead when former Christ Church College centre forward Anju Hewage displaying some aggressive play sounded the boards.

Before the Pakistanis could recover from this shock, old Zahirian and right inside Mohammed Ghazzali kept the pressure on the opponents when he slammed the second goal from a difficult angle. Having run up a 2-0 lead, the Matale Hockey Club did not rest on their laurels, knowing the potential of the visitors and kept the pressure on thus making their opponents to defend grimly, leaving aside their intention of attacking. Just before the short blast, there was an infringement deep inside the Pakistanis territory and Matale’s full back Chandana Gunapala scored off a penalty corner to send them three up, making it difficult for Pakistanis to stage a come back.

During the short break, the Pakistanis decided to change their strategy to counter the power play of the Matale team. This nearly brought them victory. First it was centre forward Sohail Abbas who scored off a penalty corner. Next centre half Waqar Sheriff sounded the boards. Both scorers were members of the Pakistan Olympic team. It must be mentioned that Pakistan could have still won this match if not for the brilliant goal keeping of Indika Willawararchchi who brought off some brilliant saves especially the scoops of Sohail Abbas. Indika is an old boy of Christ Church College.

Matale Hockey club was formed a little before the Asian inter-Club hockey championship by getting together the best talent available locally and this proved to be a tremendous success. Earlier it was a dilution of talent when their hockey players played for other teams which hardly brought in any success. The Nandamithra International Hockey Stadium in Matale too helped them to hone their skills as this is the only astro turf available outside Colombo.

This championship held for the first time in Sri Lanka is a world cup qualifier with the champions qualifying to play in the World Cup inter club tournament. Water And Power Development Authority who became champions qualified to play in the World Cup. Thus Matale had the distinction of defeating a team from the World Cup line up.