Former Zahira Coach Samath felicitated
Ruzaik FAROOK
Zahira College Colombo Group of 2009 felicitated ex-soccer coach T.
F. Samath at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo recently.
|
Zahira College Colombo Group of 2009 felicitated former
Soccer Coach of Zahira College T F Samath at the Cinnamon
Lakeside Hotel, Colombo recently. Here President of the
Group of 2009 Salim Mumtaz presenting a memento to Samath.
Secretary Haziq Jaleel looks on. Picture by Ruzaik Farook |
He was a proud Zahirian, a legend who grew under the shadows of
Zahira. In the last 36 years Zahira College soccer history he produced
more than 20 players to represent Sri Lankan Football national team from
Zahira College.
In his school days when he was asked to write an essay about his life
ambition, he wrote about to be a playground instructor and to be Zahira
College Football Coach in the hope of increasing the standard of Zahira
College Football players to the national level and himself to be a
national coach.
He started his coaching career when he was just about 21 years old in
1968. Then he was an assistant coach who received an informal allowance
of less than 150 rupees. When he first took over the College Football
team as the main coach under the mutual consent of senior coach
Sachithananda, Zahira Football team lost 9-0 to St. Benedict's College.
After he took over the team his first ever successful result was drawing
a match with the same St. Benedict's College team.
From then to now Zahira College Football team has won several
championships and All-island championship titles under the coaching of
Samath. Zahira College Football team's victories are like the Sun rise.
It happen everyday. The walls of Zahira's always echo the cheer and the
news Zahira College's Football success.
The unforgettable memory of his was winning tournament having only
nine players which was a decisive moment to withdraw from the
tournament.
In his 36 years of coaching life the best and the most skillful
player he has coached was M N M Fazaal who is the blazing member of the
2009 Group. And also he mentioned Naina Mohammed as the Class dribbler
he has seen.
Samath said, "It is easy to be the champion but it is hard to remain
as the champion". To remain as the champion it is important that the
College Football team should be supported from grounds men to principal. |
