If not for Joseph Camillus of Pettah Pharmacy fame, the great benefactor of hockey at all levels and Walter Fernando, who were the founders of Young India HC and United Youngsters SC, respectively, perhaps there would not have been hockey in Kotahena and of course at St. Benedict’s College.
The first Benedictine hockey team was captained by Dennis de Rosayro who was introduced to the game by Joseph Camillus of Young India HC and all the other players too learnt to play the game at one of these two clubs. All of us must be ever grateful to these two stalwarts for their life-long interest and love for the game. Both were ‘A’ division players of repute. Walter who represented the Colombo HA at the 1959 National Championships was a fierce attacking centre forward.
In 1956, Walter requested my services as coach which I accepted on an honorary basis until 1976. The club was the nursery for many just entering their teens and a host of them went on to represent associations and Ceylon at national and international level.
The official address of ‘United Youngsters SC’ was Walter’s home address – 115, Madampitiya Road, Colombo 15. Having no ground, practices and coaching was at Foreshore Police Grounds, Kotahena, De la Salle grounds, Mutwal, and De Mel Park, Colombo 2, every Sunday from 7.00 am to 11.00 am.
Walter’s nephews, Stanley, Homer and Subhas cut their teeth at United Youngsters along with Don Bosco, Batcho Selvaraja, Joseph Charles, T. Rajaratnam and a host of others.
In 1963, LP Rayen, S Sandrasekeran, Rev. Bro. Mathais and BJ Assey got together to form the Old Bens hockey team. Leslie Figurado who excelled in soccer was a very keen hockey player, took on the responsibility as Hony Secretary from its inception to the end of the glory days.
His contribution and manpower was as equal to the brilliance of renowned coach Brian Assey.
Before the formation of the Old Bens hockey team in 1963, internationals LP Rayen, JD Bosco, JP Rayen and T Rajaratnam were playing for the Tamil Union C&AC while the Fernando brothers, Stanley, Homer and Subhas, and SA Selvarajah among others were from United Youngsters SC.
With this wealth of experience and teenagers from the victorious Benedictine teams, they went on to dominate the Colombo hockey scene.
The first Old Bens team was captained by LP Rayen in 1963 and playing in the ‘B’ division, won the ‘Bacon Cup’ K/O tournament and were runners-up in the ‘A’ division ‘Pioneer Cup’ K/O tournament conducted by the Colombo Hockey Association, where ‘B’ teams of ‘A’ division clubs are allowed to enter. Again in 1964 as a ‘B’ division club they created a huge impact by winning the ‘Pioneer Cup’ and thereby promoted to the ‘A’ division in 1965.
That year led by Stanley Fernando, they won the ‘A’ Division ‘Andriesz Shield’ League, All Island ‘Moore Shield’ K/O tournament and All Island ‘De Hoedt’ 7-a-side K/O tournaments.
Homer and Subhas were stylists in motion, playing at left extreme and left inside, respectively.
They had all mastered their craft and it was a sheer delight not only to their superiors but also hockey lovers to see them often toying their opponents’ defences, running at full speed, sudden stops and bursting past the opponents with uncanny stick work and body swerves, resulting in heaps of goals.
During this golden era of the Old Bens, this magnificent trio were automatic choices for any Ceylon/Sri Lanka team. When representing the country, they reached even greater heights.
Stanley represented Ceylon/Sri Lanka at three consecutive Asian Games in 1966 and 1970 in Bangkok and captained the team in 1974 in Teheran.
Homer did so in 1966 and 1970 and Subhas in 1970 and 1974.
That all three represented Sri Lanka in 1970 in such high-profile tournaments as the Asian Games, is certainly a Sri Lanka record, if not an Asian Games record.
Earlier in 1967, all three brothers played versus India in two Tests, while Stanley and Homer played in all three Tests, another truly remarkable achievement.
In the annals of Ceylon/Sri Lanka Hockey, never had three brothers played international hockey together for such a long period.
They were all classy players during this era where India ruled the world and with conviction. I would say that Stanley and Subhas could have warranted a place in any Indian State team.
Homer was a little playful but just as talented.
Stanley captained and played for the Government Services HA for nearly two decades. Homer for Mercantile HA from 1966 to 1970 and Subhas for Mercantile HA from 1971 to 1977, captaining in 1975 and 1976.
PROFILES:
STANLEY FERNANDO (born 1940)
Position: Right and Centre Half
Clubs: Old Bens SC, Government Services, Colombo HA
1965 vs Indonesia (2 Tests)
1966 Asian Games, Bangkok
1966 Tour of South and North India
1967 vs India (3 Tests)
1967 Tour of North India
1968 Tour of Lahore, Pakistan (pre-Olympic International Festival)
1969 Tour of South and North India
1970 Asian Games, Bangkok
1970 vs Mysore HA
1971 Tour of South and North India, and vs Malaysia in Delhi (Nehru tournament)
1972 Tour of South and North India, and vs West Germany (Nehru tournament)
1973 vs Mysore HA
1973 Tour of South and North India (captain)
1974 vs Tamil Nadu
1974 Asian Games, Teheran (captain)
HOMER FERNANDO
Position: Left Extreme
Clubs: Old Bens SC, Colombo and Mercantile HAs
1965 vs Indonesia (2 Tests)
1966 Tour of South and North India
1966 Asian Games, Bangkok
1967 vs India (3 Tests)
1967 vs Mysore HA
1970 Asian Games, Bangkok
SUBHAS FERNANDO
Position: Left Inside
Clubs: Old Bens SC, Colombo and Mercantile HAs
1967 Tour of North India
1967 vs India (2 Tests)
1968 vs Malaysia
1968 vs Singapore
1968 Tour of Lahore, Pakistan (pre-Olympic International Festival)
1969 Tour of South and North India
1970 vs Mysore HA
1970 Asian Games, Bangkok
1971 Tour of South and North India and vs Malaysia in Delhi (Nehru Tournament)
1972 Tour of North India and vs West Germany in Delhi
1973 Tour of South and North India
1973 vs Mysore HA
1974 Asian Games, Teheran
1974 vs Tamil Nadu
1975 Tour of South India (captain) (August)
1975 Tour of North India (captain) (December)
1976 vs West Germany (2 Tests) (Captain)