FAR DOWN MEMORY LANE –
CEYLON/SRI LANKA’S FAMOUS HOCKEY PLAYERS
(ALL INTERNATIONALS)
By DENNIS DE ROSAYRO
The writer has touched on the period 1953 to 1986, when he was a National and International player from 1955 to 1964 and premier Division players for Burgher R.C. from 1954 to 1978 and Heath & Co. up to 1986, thus having played with and against these great players. He has also gone back to 1947 to remember with gratitude, those legends who paved the way for us to follow.
1.. A. MYLVAGANAM (born 1922) (Centre Half), Tamil Union C.& A.C. and Government Services
Photo Source: Facebook
1947 vs Afghanitan
1947 vs India
1948 vs Indian Olympic team
1950 vs Indian Army Southern Command
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore (Captain)
1955 Ceylon vs Pakistan (Captain)
1956 Ceylon vs Mysore H.A.
1960 Tour of North India (Captain) played in all 14 matches
1960 Ceylon vs Indian Olympic Team (Captain) (two Tests)
He was Ceylon’s ageless wonder, made his debut for Tamil Union in 1939 and International debut versus Afghanistan in 1947.
Had the distinction of being the only Ceylon player selected to play with the Indians in an Exhibition Match in Colombo in 1947.
In 1977, he was recognised by the F.I.H. as an International Umpire.
It was fitting that he ended his illustrious career as Captain against the Indian Olympic Team of 1960
- ERNIE KELAART (born 1920) (Centre Half) (Burgher Recreation Club and Combined Services)
1947 vs Afghanistan
1947 vs India
1948 vs Indian Olympic tea (Captain)
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore (Vice Captain)
1955 vs Madras H.A.
1956 vs Mysore H.A.
Ernie emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1957 with his wife Barbara and family.
- 3. HUGH ALDONS (Born 1925) (Centre Half) (Burgher R.C. and Mercantile H.A.)
1947 vs India
1950 vs Indian Army Southern Command
1953 Ceylon H.A. Tour of Madras and Bangalore (selected but could not get leave)
1955 vs Pakistan\
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Mysore H.A.
1957 Ceylon tour os madras (Captain)
A brilliant all round sportsman, hwo also represented Ceylon at Rugger (Havelocks S.C.) and Captained Ceylon at Cricket versus Madras C.A. (Gopalan Trophy)
Hugh emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1957, with his wife Ione and family.
- 4. FREDRICK WHITE (born 1930) (Goal Keeper) (Burgher R.C., Havelocks S.C. and Combined Services.
He was rated as the Best Goalie in Asia by none other than the Indian Hockey Federation and would have easily found a place in the Indian Olympic team of 1960.
Made his debut as a school boy versus the Indian Olympic team of 1948.
1948 vs Indian Olympic team
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Madras H.A.
1956 vs Mysore H.A.
1957 Ceylon tour of Madras (Vice Captain)
1958 vs Madras H.A. (Captain)
1960 Ceylon tour of North India (Vice Captain)
1960 vs Indian Olympic team (2 tests)
1960 vs New Zealand (Captain)
1961 vs Indian Wanderers
1962 vs Pakistan
1965 vs Indonesia (Captain) (2 tests)
1966 Asian Games (Captain)
1966 Tour of South and North India (Captain)
1967 vs India (Captain)
1967 vs India (Captain)
Freddie emigrated to Perth, Australia in 1972 with his wife Lavender and family.
- IVAN C. DE KRETSER (born 1930) (Centre Half, Right Inside) (Burgher R.C. and Mercantile H.A.)
1953 Ceylon H.A. Tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Madras H..A.
1956 vs Mysore H.A.
1957 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras
1958 vs Madras H.A.
1060 Ceylon H.F. tour of North India
1960 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras and Bangalore (Captain)
1960 vs Indian Olympic team
1960 vs New Zealand
1961 vs Indian Wanderers (Captain)
1962 Ceylon H.F. TOUR OF Singapore and Malaysia (Captain)
1962 Asian Games, Djakarta (Captain)
1962 vs Pakistan (2 Tests)
1963 vs Madras H.A. (Captain)
1963 vs Mysore H.A. (Captain)
1963 vs Mysore H.A. (Captain)
1964 vs Great Britain (Captain) (2 Tests)
Ivan emigrated to London, Great Britain in 1964 with his wife Romaine and family.
It is noteworthy that Hugh, Freddie and Ivan played their farewell match before emigrating, as Captains of Ceylon.
Ceylon copied the Indian style of 5-3-2-1 formation, and these four legends played as Centre Halves. The heart and soul of the team.
- VERNON PRINS (born 1924) (Centre Forward) (Nondescript C.C. and Mercantile H.a.)
1947 vs Afghanistan
1947 vs India (2 Tests)
1950 vs Indian Army Southern Command
1953 Ceylon H.A. Tour to Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
Captained Ceylon at Cricket.
- ERNIE C. KELAART (born 1922) (Centre Half) (Burgher R.C. and Combined Services)
1947 vs Afghanistan
1947 vs India
1948 vs Indian Olympic team (Captain)
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Madras H.A.
Represented Ceylon at Cricket
- WALLY F. DE ZYLVA (born 1915) (Right Extreme) (Burgher Recreation Club)
1947 vs India
1950 vs Indian Army Southern Command
1953 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras and Bangalore
- LESLIE TISSEVERASINGHE (born … ) (Full Back) (Tamil Union C & A.C.)
1947 vs Afghanistan
1947 vs India (Captain)
1947 vs India
1948 vs Indian Olympic team (Captain)
- LESLIE W. SELLAYAH (born 1918) (Centre Half) (Tamil Union C. & A.C.)
1947 vs Afghanistan (Captain)
1947 vs India
1950 vs Indian Army Southern Command
- M. ANTHONY (born…) (Right Extreme) (Tamil Union C & A.C.)
1947 vs India
1948 vs Indian Olympic Team
- FRED PEREIRA (born …) (Centre Half) (Nondescripts C.C.)
1947 vs Afghanistan
1947 vs India
1950 vs Indian Army S.C.
- GEORGE SELLAYAH (born 1919) (Half Back) (Tamil Union C & A.C.)
1948 vs Indian Olympic team
- K. ARIYARAJAH (born 1929) (Left Extreme) (Old Dhuthians H.C. and Mercantile H.A.)
1948 vs Indian Olympic team
- CHANDRA T.A. SCHAFFTER (born 1930) (Right Extreme) (Tamil Union C & A.C. and Mercantile H.A.)
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Madras
Represented Ceylon at Cricket and in 1955 was rated by no other than Sir Leary Constantine, as the best pace bowler in Ceylon. Rate distinction of being Manager of both Hockey and Cricket Teams on tours abroad.
- A. NADARAJAH (born 1930) (Right Extreme) (Tamil Union C & A.C. and Mercantile H.A.)
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Madras H.A.
1955 vs Mysore H.A.
1957 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras
1960 vs New Zealand
- BRIAN J. ASSEY (born 1927) (Right and Left Inside) (Tamil Union C & A.C. and Colombo H.A.)
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Madras H.A.
1957 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras
1958 vs Madras H.A.
- BRINDLEY STAVE (born 1931) (Left Back) (Burgher R.C. and Police S.C.)
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Madras H.A.
1957 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras
- VIVIAN DE KRETSER (Junior) (born 1930) (Right Back) (Burgher R.C. and
Mercantile H.A.
1953 Ceylon H.A. tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Madras H.A.
1957 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras
- HERBERT WIJEKOON (born 1933) (Centre Forward) (Havelock S.C., Matale and
Colombo H.A.)
1955 vs Pakistan
1957 Ceylon H.F. tour of Madras
1960 Ceylon H.F. tour of North India
DENNIS DE ROSAYRO
September 2021.
