In its quest to conjugate sporting personalities with it’s readers, ThePapare.com met up with another personality who remains an iconic figure in the sport of Rugby, Mr Tikiri Marambe.
Marambe is one of the stalwarts of yesteryear function in rugby selection committee for a long time, working as chairman of selectors and generally being at the helm for steering rugby to the place it is today.
How did you enter the rugby field?
Well that’s a bit of a long story. I studied at Trinity College and when I was a school boy my ambition was to play rugby for CR&FC. I started my rugby career when I was 16 by playing for the under 17s and then went on to play rugby for four years. From Trinity straight away I joined CR and my wish was fulfilled. Thereafter I went on to play for the Air force.
Among the hundreds of sports, why did you select rugby?
I think it is not one of my selections. That is the gift given to me by the god.
Were you interested in any other sport?
Of course yes. I played cricket for Trinity for about 4 years. I was good as a wicket keeper and a batsman. But cricket was not my sport. I was concentrating on rugby and my studies.
How did you balance your studies as well your sports?
It was a bit hard but I balanced both of them. Those days of course we were to go for practices after school around 3.30. Sport and education morning and afternoon, I balanced both of these through a lot of hard work and dedication. That’s what it takes
What do you think about the Sri Lankan rugby at the moment?
What I feel is basically we should concentrate on 7s. And I think Asanga Senevirathne is doing a great job. He is concentrating on 7s. And I think he is going in the correct way.We have very good players. My opinion is that Navy is doing a great job. Havelock, also thanks to Asanga, it is doing well.
In your opinion what else needs to be done to improve the standard of the Sri Lankan Rugby?
Well I think we should organize more international matches. Also rugby players must be motivated. At present by playing rugby it is very hard to get great jobs unlike those days. So I think rugby and studies should go together. And another fact is that most of the players once they finish their school career they go abroad. So I think that should be a fact which should be taken care of.
Do you think that the Sri Lankan rugby is restricted to Colombo and Kandy?
No it is gone outstation. Now Nawalapitiya is ready for rugby and football. And I think very soon we will have another team coming from Jaffna or Batticalo. Because Batticalo is good for Basketball. This will bring in many rugby players for Sri Lanka. I think very soon rugby will catch up in the other areas also.
What is your opinion about investing foreign coaches for a higher standard of rugby?
Well I think that it is an important question. Already we have engaged in investing on foreign coaches. I think it is very important as their level of knowledge and new methods of training are very important to the modern game. Even most of the schools are playing rugby very seriously. They like to bring out high standards of their teams as well. Therefore they are focusing on investing foreign coaches. Trinity has done that. Even Royal College engaged in investing foreign coaches. We need foreign coaches at the moment and it is my opinion that is vital to uplift the standard of rugby.
What do you think about the current Sri Lankan rugby administration?
I think many of the administrators have laid a good foundation. Among them Pushpakumara, Asanga are very great. And they are still doing well. Also they are getting the support from the Ministry of Sports. So there should be some progress in Sri Lankan rugby in this near future.
What is your opinion about the school rugby administration in Sri Lanka?
I am sorry to say that I haven’t followed school administration so far. The coaching programmes in most of the schools are well organized. St. Thomas is coming up very fast. St. Peters, Trinity also doing well. Most of the leading schools lend a great foundation for the rugby. I think Isipathana is strong in that line. But most of the good players are not taking up the point. So they have to be encouraged to get a better result.
How would you compare the standard of Sri Lankan rugby then and now?
Well I think we did very well in 1974. Even now have a good combination of players. So if we are under a good coaching program, we will come up. But it is very difficult to understand the difference now and then; because the game changed a lot, its is more professional now and the raw talents are harnessed into fighting machines. But I think we are running in the correct track
In your view who is the best rugby player that Sri Lanka has ever produced?
Well I think it is probably Priyantha Ekanayake from St. Anthony’s college. I think St. Anthony’s should be proud as it has produced some top class players.
What are your thoughts on appointing Yoshitha Rajapakse as the captain of the national 15s rugby team?
Yoshitha is a class player. There is no doubt of that. He was very hard in practices. From the day I met him I knew that he will be a class player as he had a very good work ethic. He is a good person as captain. He will lead Sri Lanka well.
What type of advices would you give a youngsters taking up the sport?
Youngsters have to attend training. They have to work hard at practices. There are no short cuts. I feel most of the players work very hard. Basically they should possess physical fitness and strength. Work through dedication and they will reach their aim.
