There have many hockey players who represented Sri Lanka against State teams on overseas tours and although they were not classed as Internationals they were the best players picked for Ceylon and later Sri Lanka at that time.
It was the time when the quality of the game and players were of paramount importance and the best always mattered.
This account is the first in a two-part series of the famously illustrious players and an insight into who they were makes very interesting reading!
RH William: Goal keeper who played for Police and the Government Services. In 1953 he toured Madras and Bangalore and was a stalwart of the Police team and an understudy to the great Freddie White.
V. Hensman: He was a fleet-footed Left-half who played for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club during their glory years and made tours of Madras and Bangalore in 1953.
I Suppiah: He was a Right-back who sported the colours of Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club and Matale HA and made tours of Madras and Bangalore in 1953. He was also a great pioneer at Matale HA at the National Championships from 1956 to 1961 and played a lead role as captain in the first two years.
Chandirapal (Chandi) Chanmugan: He was a Left-inside who played for Tamil Union, the Government Services and the Colombo HA and played against the Madras HA in 1955. Chandi was one of those outstanding Forwards who played from the late 1940s until the mid 1960s most of the time as Centre Forward and Left-inside, a very neat artiste who was able to get past his opponents with great agility.
He played for the Government Services at the National championships from 1956 to 1964, captaining the winning team in 1961.
Barney Bowen: He was a left-half who represented the Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) and Government Services HA and played against the Delhi Wanderers in 1955. He was a great reader of the game who played at National Championships from 1956 to 1958 sporting the colours of the Government Services
EA Adams: He was a Left-extreme who played for the Burgher Recreation Club, Government Services and Colombo HA as well as playing against the Delhi Wanderers in 1955. He was also a sprinter who would out-run the defence and make ample opportunities for his Forwards to score.
Malcolm Aldons: A Left-extreme he played for the Burgher Recreation Club, Government Services and Colombo HA. Although not speedy Malcolm outsmarted the defence with his brilliant stick-work and body swerves and represented Colombo HA in the Nationals in 1956 and ’57. He also played against the Delhi Wanderers and Mysore HA.
MA Albert: He played as a Right-inside for Matale and Colombo HA and toured Madras 1957. He was known as a penetrative Forward of real class and the distinction of leading the Colombo HA at the first National Championships in 1956.
KA Jayasinghe: He was a goal keeper who played for the Uva HA from 1956 to 1959 in the National Championship and made a tour of Madras.
M Jamaldeen: He was a Right-back who played for the Uva HA and toured Madras in 1957. While being at the Uva HA, he played in the National Championships from 1956 to 1960.
MH Fuard: He was a Centre-half who played for the YMCA, YMBA, Havelock SC and Matale HA and toured Madras twice in 1957 and ’58. Fuard was one of the best Centre-halves produced by Matale HA and played in the National Championships from 1956 to 1963.
PR Balaratnarajah: He was a Forward who played for Tamil Union and Colombo HA and toured Madras in 1958. Bala was a dangerous Forward who quick to trap a pass and score many a goal. He represented the Colombo HA at the National Championships in 1957 and 1958.
K Chandrasena: A Right-inside he played for YMCA, YMBA, Matale and Matale HA at the National Championships from 1956 to 1961 and made a tour of North India in 1960. He had a reputation as a diminutive Forward.
TS Sathyan: He was a goal keeper for the Kandy District Hockey Association at the Nationals in 1956 and in 1960 made tours of Madras and Mysore. He was a hawk-eyed and reliable goalie.
WB Adhikaran: He was a Centre-forward who played for Kandy District HA and Colombo HA. In 1963 he played against the Madras HA. As a sharp shooter Adhikaran represented Kandy District HA Colombo HA as the Nationals from 1963 to 1965.
Royce Van Twest: He was a Left-extreme who wore the colours of the Burgher Recreation Club and Colombo HA and in 1966 made tours of North and South India. Royce was an extremely talented player with speed and guile being his forte and he represented the Colombo HA at the Nationals in 1964 and 1966. Unfortunately where hockey was concerned he lost out on many opportunities as he went into Planting in 1966. He settled down in the USA with his family in 2003.
MHM Zarook: He was a Left-half who played for Old Zahirians SC and Matale HA and toured North and South India in 1966. A was very hardy and talented and passed away at a very young age. He was the brother of MH Fuard and represented the Matale HA at the National Championships from 1964 to 1966, 1968 and 1969, captaining the team in 1968.
Chandra Wijekoon: He was a Left-inside who played for the YMBA, Malwatte HA, Matale and Matale HA and made a tour of North India in 1967. He hailed from the famous Wijekoon brothers’ and was a reliable Forward who rendered great service representing Matale HA from 1967 to 1977.
