He was easily the player that rivals dreaded to play against and his supporters wanted to see all the time or where the ball was. He is none other than the hulking St. Joseph’s College rugby forward and Number Eight Naveen Marasinghe.
Without Marasinghe there would have been less success for the Joes this season and with him they were a complete team that came tantalizingly close to winning the League as well as the knock-out titles at the concluded inter-school season.
Marasinghe was easily the trump card for the Joes and the go-to player when the chips were down and he obliged on almost every occasion like carrying the weight of his school on his shoulders.
He will never compromise on loyalty and will settle for nothing less than being the best in whatever he puts his hands into.
“My father wanted me to play rugby which is something I never intended to do and thank God I made the right decision,” said Marasinghe in an interview with the Sunday Observer.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: Describe yourself in one word?
I would describe myself as an authentic person
Q: Any words or phrases you overuse?
Hang in there
Q: What is your most marked characteristic?
Optimism and loyalty
Q: If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I wouldn’t alter anything in my life because doing so would make me less of who I am today.
Q: What is the most important thing in your life?
Faith, family and brotherhood
Q: Who has influenced you the most?
Jesus Christ
Q: Are you fashionable?
Yes, indeed
Q: If you had access to a time machine what would you change?
I’d rather use it to get into the Trojan War and fight Achilles.
Q: What motivates you in your life?
My physical strength and achievements
Q: If you could choose any career right now, what would it be?
An executive officer in the Navy
Q: What forms of music do you listen to?
Country and rock music
Q: What’s the best thing you would like to hear from someone?
I believe in you
Q: What made you to choose sports?
My father wanted me to play rugby which is something I never intended to do and thank God I made the right choice.
Q: Thus far what were your most unforgettable sporting incidents?
After the match we had against Royal College our three main players got injured including Terry and Rahel. So I had to captain the side as well as win the St. Anthony’s Kandy match with a bonus point to secure our place in the league super round. Everybody said “we believe in you” and that just gave me immense confidence before the match. We ended up securing our place in the league super round by beating our opposition 35-20.
Q: What’s your best school sporting achievement?
When I was 16 I broke the junior national record in shot putt
Q: What is your idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is doing what you like and creating memories with loved ones.
Q: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
People being snobbish
Q: What has been your biggest disappointment?
Losing to Isipathana in the President’s trophy final
Q: Most important lesson life has taught you?
No matter how hard it gets you should never stop trying.