St. Benedict’s College aim to bring back past glory days | Sunday Observer

St. Benedict’s College aim to bring back past glory days

27 August, 2023

The newly formed St. Benedict’s College soccer wing held its AGM recently at the school’s swimming pool complex.

St. Benedict’s College was one of the top football playing schools in the past and its main priority is to bring back a bygone era by encouraging and promoting young footballers at grass root level.

The Bens produced many classy footballers in the past from the early 1920s in the mould of VA Sugathadasa, Albert Fernando, Denzil Walles, Neville Cassichetty, Edward Jayawardena, Rozen Rodrigo, Lluwellyn Rayen, Vije Silva, Evans Balasuriya, T.Wanigaratnam, Dr Collin Fernandopulle, Tilak Peiris, Donald Bastianpillai, Tissa Kodituwakku, Benildus Fernando, Damien Fernando, Benjamin Ranabahu, Amalraj Miranda, Martin De Porres, Lakshman Caldera, Damodaram Chandrasiri, Anura de Silva, Adrian Vindurampulle, Alfred Dias, Waldo Fernando, Malcolm Rodrigo and Zeno Fernando among others.

Many of the Benedictine footballers have also donned the Sri Lanka jersey while Anura de Silva had been the past captain and past president of the Sri Lanka Football Federation and Tilak Peiris is one of the founder members heading the Soccer Masters Association for several years.

With the fullest co-operation of the energetic present Director of St. Benedict’s, Rev Bro Pubudu Rajapakse, president of the present wing Randolph Perera who was also the former captain of the school team and the FA Cup champion team of the Old Bens S.C -1990 and the secretary Trevin Ramanaden who represented the Sri Lanka schools under 19 team, the aim is to bring back the glory of yesteryears.

The present committee also has plans to expand in the near future and invite enthusiastic Old Bens to join and support this wing that will also benefit promoting club soccer and keep the sport alive even after the young players leave school.

Special mention should be made of Damoderam Chandrasiri who excelled for both school and Old Bens and became the number one goal keeper for Sri Lanka.

He also had the privilege of being a Double International representing Sri Lanka in basketball as well.

Chandrasiri also played professional football in Bangladesh for a reputed club Abhani SC in the mid 1980s and also served the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and St Benedict’s as a senior coach. He is presently the coach of Old Bens SC.

Sharmen Caldera is another product of St Benedict’s College who excelled during school days and represented Old Bens SC. He was also a coach of the school that won trophies during his tenure.

Jayantha Wanigasuriya, the late Laksman Caldera, the late Donald Bastianpillai and the late Valentine Fernando were also strong pillars of Bens’ soccer.

The present senior coach of Old Bens, Mohamed Sideequ and the junior coach Sisira Kumara and Imran are doing a splendid job training and pruning the youngsters.

The following old boys were appointed as office bearers:

Patron: Rev. Bro. Pubudu Rajapakse
President: Randolph Perera

Vice President: Anura de Silva
General Secretary: Trevin Ramanaden

Treasurer: Sheran Perera
Advisory Committee: Tilak Peiris, Emil Kronemberg, Eranda Canjamanaden, Nisal Dimantha, Nevin Nohyar

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