CEYLON HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
PERIOD from APRIL 1957/31st MARCH 1958
By Dennis de Rosayro
Photo Source:Facebook
President – Sir Donatius Victoria,
Hony. Secretary – Mr. T.M.NM. Mahamooth
Hony. Treasurer – Mr. S.M.S. Sabireen
Selection Committee – Messrs Walter Jayasuriya (Chairman), Wally F, de Zylva, T.M.N. Mahamooth, George Mant and M.S. Jainudeen.
National match – 30 May 1957 – Madras H.A beat Ceylon H.A. 0/2 at Madras
Andriesz Shield (League) 1957
Champions – Tamil Union C&AC
Pioneer Cup (K/out) 1957
Champions – Burgher Recreation Club
2nd NATIONAL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS 1957
EDWARD PARK, MATALE
The Tournament Committee were : J.C.P. Fernando (Chairman), George Mant (Vice Chairman), S. Ratnasothy (Hony Secretary), A.Z.O. Omerdeen (Editor, Souvenir), K.H.B. Dissanayake (Hony. Treasurer), C. Robinson, M.V. Mathai, J.N. Daniel, E.M.C. Amunugama, Q.P. Dias, T.B. Dhanapala, D.M.P. Deen.
The first four mentioned had the task of performing all duties in connection with the tournament. The livewire behind the whole organisation was the human dynamo and hockey great of Matale, Mr. George Mant.
The championships opened with a blaze of glory and colour. The many thousands of men, women, school boys and school girls will not forget the spectacle they witnessed. The organisation, the magnificent opening ceremony, the likeness of which was never before seen in any sporting event, held in the district.
The Police Band was in attendance, amidst the splendour of colour, march past of the teams and the release of pigeons.
The Chief Guest was Sir Nicholas Attygalle.
The opening match at Edward Park saw a record crowd of over 5000 in very loud support of the home team.
Neighbours, Kandy D.H.A were no match and were trounced by 7 goals to 1. The Wijekoon Brothers, International Herbert scored a hat trick which Douglas netted two, and G.H. Jayatissa and Chandrasena collected a goal each. It was a tantalising display of stick work and clever dribbling.
In the Finals, Matale went out as favourites and thousands over thousands came to share the glorious moments of victory that everybody felt was sure to come.
The Ceylon Observer reported ‘Matale tumbled from their hockey pedestal when the less fancied Mercantile H.A. prevailed over them by a solitary goal, scored as a result of a penalty bully in the last few minutes of the game, scored by Mercantile Centre-Forward, Vernon Prins.
The Teams
Mercantile H. A. Matale H. A.
J.R. Ratnasingham, Goal A.C. Buhari
V.S. de Kretser (Capt) R/B K.S. Suppiah (Capt.)
T.S. Adahan L/B K. Tillakar
Dennis de Rosayro R/H G.H. Rupesinghe
Hugh Aldons (Capt.) C/H M.H. Fuard
Anton D’Costa L/H P.A. Hettiaratchi
A.Nadarajah R/F G.H. Chandrasena
Ivan de Kretser R/I K. Chandrasena
V.G. Prins C/F Herbert Wijekoon
Somasekeran L/I Douglas Wijekoon
Denzil Perera L/E G.H. Jayatissa
The Closing Ceremony was performed by His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke.
As His Excellency entered the grounds, there was a fly past by the Royal Ceylon Air Force.
I am very thankful to National ‘Cap’ A.J.M. Farook for some of the material provided. He too was a very capable administrator for many decades.
Dennis de Rosayro
September 2021
