The Odyars were great sportsmen

Hafiz Marikar

Trinity College is proud of Uvais Odayar who was one of the top sportsmen during his stint at Trinity. He too like Philip Buultjens packed into one bag his achievements in cricket, football, rugger, hockey, athletics and boxing with pride and honor.

There were many happy occasions, often shared with his family that created history at Trinity College. Three generations of sportsmen represented the school. His father S.A. Odayar was a distinguished sportsman between 1928 to 1930. Uvais was from 1955 to 1957. His sons Ikram 1984 to 1985 and Reeza from 1988 to 1989.

S.A.Odayar senior was a Senior Prefect; Captained cricket in 1930 was awarded the coveted Trinity Lion that year.

He was an outstanding batsman. In his first year's appearance in 1928 made 60 runs against St. Anthony's.

In the following year 67 runs vs.Zahira College.In the year he captained missed a deserving century by seventeen runs against St. Anthony's, in 1928 won the fielding prize and in 1929 the batting prize.

He was also the athletics captain, won colors in rugger, served as Quarter-Master Sergeant in the Ceylon Cadet Battalion and was the winner of the Ryde Gold medal in 1929 for the Best All-Round student of the school.

Some of his team mates at cricket were Kin Maung, I.M.S.Deen, T.Madugalle, S.Ratwatte. At rugger Kin Maung. K.B.Sangakara, C.D.Buultjens, V.Sabapathy, Richard Udugama and J.D.Duncan.

Uvais Odayar (son of SA Odayar), represented the school at cricket, rugger, hockey, athletics, boxing and tennis. Uvais was the first ever recipient of the A.H.R. Joseph Challenge Trophy for the Best All-round Sportsman at Trinity.

Some of the other winners are Nimal Maralanda, Jayantissa Ratwatte, Eric Roles, M.T.M. Zaruk, Mohan Sahayam, Glen Van Langenberg and Ajith Abeyaratne.

Uvais was one of the best fullbacks at rugger in the schools and represented the school from 1955 to 1957. At cricket, he was fine close in fielder and in 1955 won the fielding prize.

At hockey in 1956 he won college colors. The only all round sportsman at Trinity during that period of time. In 1957 he won cricket colors. He played under H.F.Ratwatte in 1955, 1956 under M.G.Ratwatte and he led the team in 1957.

He won his rugby colors in 1955. But was unfortunate not to win the Converted Lion in any sport. Uvais Odayar was also a fine goal-kicker.

Some of his team mates at rugger were Ken de Joodt, Franklyn Jacob, D.N.Frank, Mike de Alwis, Nimal Maralnda, Denzil Kobbekaduwa, A.S.B ..Elepola, G. Weerasinghe. When he played for the All Ceylon team in 1959, his counterparts were Dharmasiri Madugalle, Lionel Almeida, Ken McPherson, R.S. Harrison, Nick Tait, Neville Leefe, Ranjith Sri Nissanka, John Boyd-Moss, D.R. Macrae, T.B. Pilapitiya, J.M.E. Waring, Chris Bean, Ashroff " Ashley" Cader and W.B. Cameron.

Ikram Odayar (Uavai's son) - was a fine boxer and won the National Schools Stubb Shield. Incidentally, he was the youngest to win the Boxing Lion at Trinity at 15 years in 1981 which was last won in 1951(After 30 years) thereafter.

Took up rugby in grand style. He led both teams and also won the Trinity Lion in both Boxing & Rugby. He was a crack third row forward and a fine pugilist. After his school rugby career he played for Kandy Sports Club. From there he crossed over to CR & FC and also played for the National team. Having taken up to planting he played for Dickoya MCC, Dimbulla ACC and Kelani Valley teams as well.

While in Kandy he did little bit of coaching and helped St. Sylvester's to beat his old school at rugby. Later he took up coaching Trinity with success. He won the rugby Lion in 1986, He led the Sri Lanka Youth team at the Pan Pacific Rugby tournament held in Chinese Taipei, and played for Sri Lanka under Priyantha Ekanayake.

Some of his team mates were Graham Raux, L. V. Ekanayake, Ajantha Samarakoon, Norman de Silva, Nizam Jamaldeen, Saman Kotelawela and Hemantha Yatawara.

Reza Odayar (last son of Uvais) - too was a crack third row forward.He played for the school and later for Kandy S.C. and Havelock SC. That he Odayar's third son. Reza like his brother Ikram won his Boxing Colors in 1984 and Rugby Colors in 1989.