Kandyan Mahinda Aluvihare (on left) was rated as the best mid-fielder in Asia during his heydays. Here Aluwihare with Sri Lanka football legend P.D. Sirisena[/caption]
As football was in the focus of many of our sports lovers during the past month, due to the “Euro 2020 heat”, we thought of looking back at how the world’s most popular sport was established here in Kandy.
Kandy had its baptism of football in the mid 1930s during World War I. That was when the British military units had been stationed in Kandy with one-time Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces, Admiral Lord Louis Mountabatten having his headquarters in the hill capital.
Early clubs
Several top British footballers displayed their versatility, representing the Kingstown and Queenstown regiments, the Royal artillery, and also the West African Rifles, which also had quite a few Negro stars in their ranks. Football was the main sport at that time in the hills.
So, the game increased in popularity day by day, because it was played with great interest. Some of the clubs which took to the sport in the 30s were Old Antonians SC, Old Kingswoodians SC, Police SC, Kandy YMCA, Greenfield SC, Kandy Sports Club, Phoenix SC, St. Michael’s SC, Gampola Chums, Rovers SC, Kandy YMMA and Red Stars SC.
Doyen M.S. Jainudeen
The sport with foreign flavour was getting popular and it was played everywhere. Some were seen playing it in the streets. Wherever any space was available, football was played and the late doyen of sports M.S. Jainudeen, father-in-law of former veteran Sports Editor T.M.K. Samath, was the kingpin. The man behind the scene, Jainudeen formed the Kandy Amateur Football League (KAFL) with the support from the foreign military men and some other keen supports of the sport in Kandy, mainly in the early 1940s.
The KAFL subsequently changed its name to Kandy District Football League (KDFL) and also served football in Matale, Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Kurunegala, and Kegalle. And, as the years rolled by, these towns formed their own leagues.
Referees’ Association
Then came the Kandy Football Referees’ Association (KFRA), in the late 40s, with pioneers like Philip Buultjens, Kingsley Abeyasinghe, R. Jaymon, S.A.C. ‘Gunner’ Mohideen as active referees. Later A.J.M. Yusuf, M.E. Marikar, and Tom Ossen handled the whistle.
During that time, Col. V.H.L. Anthonis, A.C.L. Ratwatte, and E.L. Senanayake, former Mayor and minister, gave Kandy soccer a big hand with M.S. Jainudeen as the KFRA Secretary. In mid 1970s Dr. C.D.L. Fernando took over the Presidency and held the position till his death, in the mid eighties.
The Mahinda Aluwihare saga
In the good old days, most of the football clubs in Kandy were run by Muslim businessmen. From the early years of barefooted competitions to the present age of sophisticated football, Kandy has played a vital role in Sri Lanka’s football development.
Talking about some of the top players Kandy had produced, the first coming to mind is none other than Sylvestrian Mahinda Aluwihare, who was rated as the best mid-field player in Asia. Aluwihare led the country on several occasions.
The first product from Kandy to lead the country was Tom Ossen when he was in the Kandy Municipal Council. While Ossen had the longest and most colourful international career (1947-1965), Mahinda was a picture of sheer brilliance in the pivotal position, which helped Sri Lanka to many an international victory.
Prominent players
Other top Kandy football players include T.S. Jaymon, Oscar Wijetunga, Tuan Amidon, P. Bhai, Ratnapala Aluwihare, M.E. Marikar, A.J.M. Yusuf, M.S. Shabdeen, Philip Buultjens, Newton Perera, Kalu Sirisena, P.M. Rasiah, T. Themiyapala, Abdul Razak, Rukman Silva, G.S. Piyatissa, Wilson Abeyasinghe, Freddie White, Athur Windus, M.I. Bin Islamil, Moomin Khan, T.O. Marikar Deen, Hector Galuge, S. Ekanayake, R. Wipulasena, D.H. Vithanage, M. Fuard, M. Thair, Sunil Samarasinghe, S. Nelson, Faji Fazeer, T. Kumala Mohamed, S.A. Weerasinghe, and K.D. Sarath.