Colombo Malay Cricket Club (CMCC) will conduct a unique netball tournament rugby Sevens style today (5) to bring the curtains down on its 150th anniversary celebrations which began in March 2022.
“This netball tournament is the final sports event in our 150th commemorative year. We have successfully conducted cricket, sepak takraw, hockey and badminton tournaments,” said CMCC president Rizwan Badoordeen at a Press conference held at the Padang on February 28.
“Netball has a prominent place in the Malay Club. This will be a unique tournament with the participation of schools, clubs, veterans and special men’s teams,” said CMCC Club captain Rinaldin Rahaman.
“The event will commence at 8.00 am at the Padang with a flag hoisting ceremony followed by the draw. The tournament matches will commence at 9.00 am with an exhibition match between two men’s teams from Moneragala and Ratnapura. Trophies and certificates of participation will be given to the winners and runners-up team in addition to Special Awards for the Best Shooter, Best Goal Attack, Best Defender and Netball Queen,” said Perry Jumat, CMCC’s Netball Secretary.
A past president of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka Thamara Dharmakeerthi Herath will be the chief guest at the event while former Sri Lanka Asia Cup winning captain and chairperson of the National Selection Committee Damayanthi Jayathilaka will be the Guest of Honour.
Consultant Tournament Director Hyacinth Wijesinghe said a unique feature of this tournament is that matches will be played simultaneously on four courts beginning and ending with one whistle.
“It will be played in a carnival atmosphere in a shortened format of seven minutes each half for league matches with one minute interval while the finals will be for 10 minutes each half with a break of three minutes,” she said.
“This format is popular in Singapore and Australia. It was held once earlier in Sri Lanka when I conducted a tournament at the Malay Club five years ago,” said Wijesinghe who aims to unearth new talent from this tournament.
“We are also giving an opportunity for second tier teams from schools and clubs to participate. Under -15 school girl teams who are not among the top eight will be competing and clubs other than the dominant Forces and banks have been invited to form teams for this tournament,” she said.
The participating teams are:
Schools Under-15: Yasodara Balika Gampaha, Sacred Heart Galle, Sujatha Nugegoda, Piyarathana Padukka, Coach H Club, Panadura Balika, St. Claire’s and Kolonnawa Balika.
Clubs: Hillwood Club, Kalutara Balika Club, HFC Club, Gothami Club, Coach H Club, Heaven Roses Thihariya and Girls High School
Veterans: Track Master, Police, Maliyadeva Old Girls and Goal Getters