Defense Services spikers off to Germany

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Sri Lanka Defense Services Volleyball Team left the island yesterday on a seven-day tour to Germany. The tour is organized under the Asian German Sports Exchange Programme (AGSEP) and the 12 member local team will battle it out against three second division German Club teams from today to May 10.

The Sri Lankan team included majority from the Air Force with six players while the Army and the Navy represented with three players each. The local team consist of eight National players who have been experienced sportsmen. Air Force coach M.P. Janaka Fernando is the coach of the touring team and Navy's Captain Y.M.G. Bandara Jayathilaka will be the Chef de Mission. Former Army player Lt.Col. T.M. Abeyrathne is the team Manager.

The first match will be against VC Dresden Club today and will be followed by the second match with TSN Zschopan Club tomorrow. Lankans will meet TKC Wrienzen team in the final match on May 10.

The tour will be a historic one as it is the first ever Defence Forces Team tour to a European country after 20 years.

Air Force TT team, women's Basketball National team/under-20 team, and women's football team are also will tour Germany in this year under the AGSEP.

This will be the 18th visit of a Sri Lankan sports team to Germany during the last 25 years and more than 5000 German sportsmen and women have been visited the island under the AGSEP.

Speaking at a press breifing, the AGSEP Chairman/CEO Dr. D. Doering emphasized the programme's importance as an image promoting activity in Europe after the 30-year civil war. He pointed out similarities between the two countries as both have faced brutal wars in the history. The hosting city, Dresden was totally destroyed during the World War II and rebuilt later.

Doering commended the high standard of Sri Lankan volleyball and said that the tour will be a memorable experience for players of both countries. He thanked Sri Lankan authorities who supported to make this tour a reality within a very short period. He further said that AGSEP plans to organize over 20 tours in this year where schools and clubs too considered to be included.

He also said that the programme will strengthen the ties between two countries and will help to popularize Sri Lanka as a sports tourism destination among Europeans as well.

AGSEP Secretary Chandana Perera said that hopefully many German Clubs will send their volleyball teams in future and they are planing to play the matches in rural areas as well to popularize volleyball in the country. He also said that the Sri Lanka National TT team has visited Germany 12 times thanks to this programme and some of the local players are presently playing for German Clubs as a result.

The touring Defense Forces Volleyball team and officials -

P. M. Chaminda Perea (Navy), J. A. Chanaka Madushanka (Navy), A. D. Romesh Ranawaka (Navy), M. P. Suranga Fernando (Air Force), B. Wasantha Lakmal (Army), M. S. Mangala Kumara (Air Force), P. P. Melan Jayawardana (Air Force), G. J. Sanjaya Senadheera (Air Force), A.A.N. Chathuranga Wijesekara (Air Force), M.M. Mohomad Rifki (Air Force), W. A. Tharanga de Mel (Army), G. P. Hasitha Dilan (Army).

Officials - Chef de Mission - Capt. Y. M. G. Bandara Jayathilaka, Team Manager -Lt.Col. T. Mahesh Abeyrathne, Coach - M.P. Janaka Fernando