The Matale Thomians schools hockey Sevens for boys in the senior category which is an eagerly awaited tournament will be played at the Edward Park on June 3, Sunday.
According to Eric Hulangamuwa the Secretary, Matale Old Thomians Hockey, the tournament is intended to achieve a new level of participation by leading hockey playing schools in the island and also to make it an entertaining and enjoyable sport.
The main sponsors are Singer and People’s Bank with Diana Biscuits, NSBM Green University, Siyatha TV, Siyatha FM and PEO TV as co-partners.
This year’s tournament has S. Thomas’ Matale, Vijaya, Zahira, Christ Church, Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Matale), Royal, S. Thomas’, Ananda, Nalanda, Wesley, DS Senanayake, St. Benedict’s, St. Peter’s (Colombo), Prince Of Wales (Moratuwa), St. Sylvester’s, Trinity, Dharmaraja, Kingswood (Kandy), Dharmadutha (Badulla), Jaffna Central, St. John’s (Jaffna), Maris Stella, Joseph Vaz, Bandaranayake MV (Gampaha), S. Thomas’ (Matara), St. Aloysius’ and Mahinda in the fray.
The winners will be presented the AJ Wijesinghe Memorial Challenge Trophy and prize money according to the organizers.
AJ Wijesinghe was a principal of St. Thomas’ College Matale and former president of the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association. The first runner-up will receive the late APB Harasgama Challenge Trophy and prize money, Harasgama is an old boy of St. Thomas’ and former president of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation.
The second runner-up will receive the late Squadron Leader CK Hulangamuwa Challenge Trophy. He was a former Sri Lanka player and captain of the Air Force and Defense Services teams besides being and Old Thomian.
The player of the tournament will receive the Ranjith Wijekoon Challenge Trophy while the up-and-coming player of the tournament will receive the Wanasinghe Trophy.
The best goalkeeper of the tournament will be presented the M. Mahesratnam Challenge trophy. At last year’s tournament Christ Church College Matale were the champions and runner-up Maris Stella College. Apart from the tournament some personalities will be felicitated for their commitment towards hockey with the Golden Award to be made to Kemangani Aluwihare, (BMS College), Hameed Mohamad Thahir (Zahira College), Themiya Liyanage (Vijaya College), MIM Anzar, Mahendran Kulandawelu, Mahinda Deegahawatura, Milton Gunawardena, J.Kahanda and M Indrawansa Herath (St. Thomas’).
Apart from these awards four past teachers from St.Thomas’ College who rendered a great service will be felicitated. They are Mannual Pille, U.B.Weregama, R.N. Amaratunge and D.G. Karunaratne.