Kandy beaten at their own game

• 
• 

Details

Category: Caltex Club Rugby

Published on Wednesday, 14 September 2011 11:20

Written by T.B. Joshua

Hits: 1370

Kandy SC the defending champions of the Clifford cup knock out tournament going into this year’s tournament have had many complaints over the organizing of both the league and knockout tournaments.

The Kandy vs. Navy rivalry that has escalated more off the field than on is seeing two super powers of rugby with more clout than just brilliant players, emerging on the scene. Arguably this could be good for rugby. With one team paying up and buying off top players of the arena and the other holding to their accustomed superiority with all their might, it is seemingly an intriguing battle for supremacy.

A court case is presiding over the league trophy, where Kandy took the tournament committee of the SLRFU to courts to prevent them from awarding the league to any other club. The fiasco commenced from player Nuwan Hettiarachchi who having been contracted with the navy playing for Kandy and, the Navy whisking him back to barracks where he was imprisoned until a presidential pardon set him free. Points for the match in which Hettiarachchi played were deducted from the Kandy side which prompted Kandy to believe SLRFU was on the way to awarding the trophy to league runners up Navy. The thinking has baffled the rugby circles as Kandy won the league without the 06 points of that game.

When contacted, the SLRFU informed ThePapare.com that they are unable to make statements due to the ongoing court case.  However, at the media conference held over the club knockouts Mr Kishu Gomes CEO Caltex assured that the trophy will be awarded to the winners on the day of the knockout finals – 17th of Sept 2011.

In the latest round up of the Kandy grouses, they have requested the SLRFU to change the knockout final venue from Royal complex to CR & FC grounds stating it was a neutral venue and also made a request for a foreign referee possibly insinuating Navy intimidation over local referees.

The SLRFU have over the last couple of years allowed Kandy to play all their knockout-out (Clifford cup) games at the Bogambara stadium in Kandy. This year on the other hand the SLRFU selected Royal sports complex as the venue for the knockout matches including the finals. Upon Kandy SC’s request, the quarter-final and then the semi-final, in which Kandy SC was scheduled to play in was moved to Bogambara but the SLRFU stood their ground stating that the finals will be played in Colombo as it was played in Kandy for the last couple of years.

The venues for the games the Clifford cup 2011 was announced at a press briefing held on the 31st of August 2011 where Jehan Canagaratne the tournament director briefed the media on the running of the tournament. He clearly explained the reasons for the venues and there should not be any room for confusion.

It is reported that kings of rugby from the hill capital have complained about having to play at a venue they have never played at this whole season and their opponents Navy SC have played both their semi-final and quarter-final at the venue scheduled for the final. Although it does give Navy SC an unfair advantage Kandy SC had that same edge last year when Navy went and played at Bogambara last year after Kandy had played two games there prior to the final, Kandy SC will have the same advantage next year if they get into the finals with having played both games at Bogambara.

The request for a foreign referee for the final based on bias may hold some water, but adhering to this request at such short notice will not be practical for the SLRFU.

Regarding the complaints of Navy SC having had training sessions at Royal Complex, Kandy SC have no leg to stand on as there is nothing to say Navy cannot train at this venue. If Kandy SC wished they could practice at Royal as well. Certainly Kandy SC practice at Bogambara prior to their games at that venue.

Kandy SC has held rugby to ransom periodically and its time this feud between the Kandy club and the governing body Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is hopefully brought to an end.

• < Prev
• Next >