Head Coach Nilfer Ibrahim

Asst. Coach/Player Dulanjana Wijesinghe

• This year the cops have a super team who can upset anyone!

Police Sports Club is slowly and steadily heading back to its glory days with the brilliant display of rugby they’ve been putting together as a team in the recent past and the ongoing Inter-Club Rugby season 2023/24. Captained by Mohan Wimalarathne, Police SC will be guided by the dynamic duo – Nilfer Ibrahim as Head Coach and Dulanjana “Dula” Wijesinghe as Deputy and Forwards Coach. “Dula” will act as coach cum player this season, sharing his expertise. 

It’s been a long wait of 31 years for silverware at Police Rugby. However they’ve been a strong force who can match up with any top league team.

The cops went on to win six consecutive leagues from 1984-89. Clinching the triple crown in 1989 was their most decorated season. They put on some valiant performances in the last season to finish off on a promising note. 

This year’s coaching duo is a well-knit, well-organised and proven coaches who have nurtured and continue to nurture fresh schoolboy talent along with the vastly experienced players in their ranks. 

Here’s what our protagonist Nilfer Ibrahim Head Coach of Police Rugby had to share:

Coach, how was pre-season prep in your second season with the lads at Police Park been?

We started training a lot early this time and focused more as we had to patch up with multiple injury concerns. We focused more on backs as we learnt our lessons from the past and definitely our backs have now become a strong force with some brilliant displays in the practice matches. We have a well-balanced unit and the player retention rate is at a great level. But our forwards need a bit more grooming to catch up with last year’s momentum and if they do with our backs in support, we will be unstoppable.

We have some 8 to 9 really good players who are school-leavers, along with three Sri Lanka national reps, so there is a healthy fight within the team itself with 3-4 players in competition for positions which is a very good sign in terms of talent finding. This is what we never had before.

The gelling of young blood with the seniors – I have had the same experience transitioning from school to club as a player. The school leavers with us, we never put them straight into hot water. Some we put in for a good 20-minute play during practice games. Some were sent in while we were trailing or leading alike. Then I saw that they actually possess a mature knowledge even just after school. And the other three to four exceptional talents we’ve found are included in the 23-man full team and will get valuable game time in the big games. 

You and Coach Dula’s combo, from coaching Joes together and now at Police, how would you describe that journey?

Dula is comparatively still young, he couldn’t play some previous seasons but when he played he did it to the maximum level.

It is very easy to work with him mainly because he is very updated on all the latest developments in all aspects of the game as someone who is actively playing the game. Currently playing with the team while on his coaching duties is a big asset to us and also the vast wealth of experience he brings into the club by representing the Sri Lanka national outfit, gives everyone a morale booster.   

As a champion coach, how would you differentiate school and club rugby?

Well, at school level it’s a bit tough, I coach St. Joseph’s, their studies come first and then rugby. Here at club level that hurdle is passed and we have players involved in various professions in life along with in-house Police players too. All of them are tasked and drafted to play rugby in a more organised manner. So it’s a lot easier than school level for us to manage the players. Also with the facilities provided at Police SC we can function well into developing the sport. 

Who do you think will be your biggest hurdle?

Nobody will come at us to easily give themselves away, every team, every player is keen on winning and that’s what matters most, all the teams in the league this year have their own unique strengths.

Tell us your final message to all the fans and what do you have to say for your upcoming rivals?

We played some really good games, many mistakes happened in the past with lost encounters, yet, we shall hit back stronger and harder and with our lessons learnt through mistakes will be rectified: we are definitely going to be a strong force to beat.  

Here’s what the inspirational Captain Mohan Wimalarathne told The Daily Morning Sports on Police SC’s 2023/24 season: 

Mohan, how was pre-season training?

We started a few months ago and had an outbound training session in September. We have loads of fresh schoolboy talent along with senior players who have national level exposure as well. We had a great start to the season with a big win against the Navy and the CR&FC encounter slipped away from us with some critical decision-making errors. 

How’s the team combo this time and tell us some insights into the team?

Last season we had a good set of forwards and we’ve retained them this time too. Backs were a bit weary last season with many injury concerns. Hence we focused more on backs when recruiting new talent for the current season. With the inclusion of experienced campaigners like Hirantha Perera, Mithun Hapugoda, and Sachith Silva who are back after two-year lapse is an immense boost for us and the youngsters can gain a lot of knowledge by gelling with these lads. Definitely the backs have a big development this season along with the powerful forwards. Nilusha Fernando, Shanaka Harischandra, Nisala Samadhi, Hashan Fernando, Janith Chanaka, Sujan Kodithuwakku, Prince Chamara are some of the die-hard season players. 

Last season we had three top schoolboys from Wesley College (Shane, Hafiz, Shaveen) and from 2023, we have top schoolboy players namely Isipathana skipper Naveen Kanishka, Chamath, Chamindu (Isipathana), Vihanga , Lanka, Chamod (St. Joseph's).

What’s the message to the fans who love and follow Police rugby?

I have a top team this year and as a captain I'm really proud and happy for that. 

I believe as a team we can achieve the cup as our target is to play the finals by following a match-by-match approach by rectifying our past mistakes. Every team will be a tough opponent but we will give our best. 

I know there are some fans who travel to watch us wherever we go. For them and all of you who support Police SC we will put on a show – a season to remember!    

Now we shift our attention to Forwards/Assistant Coach and Player Dulanjana Wijesinghe:

Coach Dula, being a coach and a player in a team might be an amazing experience. Tell us more about it. 

For the last five months we’ve been training as a team with many newcomers joining straight after school since August. The team combinations are going well. We have some experienced players also joining us. Both the juniors and seniors alike are gelling so well, so I’m pretty sure that in the future games they will perform greatly.

Player cum Coach –  I’m playing purely to share my exposure with the junior/new players along with the blessings of my Head Coach Nilfer Ibrahim. As coaches our intention was to pass on first hand knowledge.

Also I think this year all the teams are well balanced and all games are tough. So we are going game by game. Nothing else matters than our next opponent–the next game, that’s all what we focus on.

Police have been waiting for a long time to bring the title. Any positives this time around?

Yes, it’s been a 30-year long wait. I think this time we have a good team who can reach the pinnacle. So I’m urging the Police rugby fans to come and support us. We are honestly here to do some wonders.

And finally, it’s time to speak to the senior-most player Nilusha Fernando: 

Fernando has been involved in the club rugby circuit for well over two decades. At the veteran age of 42-years, Nilusha still turns up for training at Police Park which has been his home for many years and he continues to serve at the island’s Police force as well.

Looking back into the two decades of your club rugby journey, what do you recollect? 

My journey, well it goes way back to 2001 when I officially started my club rugby journey at Police Sports Club, However I had my club debut in 1999, still as a schoolboy, playing for Havelock Sports Club. The Rugby we see today and rugby 20 years ago, has completely changed – from rules to tactics to clothing etc. For example the way we place/position the rugby ball is totally different when compared to the past.

As far as I know, from my contemporaries, I’m the last man playing active club rugby on the field, to date.

I learn something new everyday and try to keep myself updated with all the latest happenings in the sport. I learn a lot from the youngsters too. I catch up a lot on what we might have missed during our school days from the new schoolboy players. That’s the beauty of it. I share my two-cents as well in any area. I even have players who are half my age and some were not born when I started playing. That’s how the circle of life is, we all have to learn from each other no matter the age, whether you are junior or senior, everyone has knowledge to share.

I might play a couple of years more and peacefully retire. 

As the senior most player in the league, we’d love to hear a few encouraging words from you to motivate the youngsters as well as the veterans.

At 42-years of age today, I still play the sport. Age is just a number, age doesn’t matter in sports. I am keeping up with players who are just off from school. There are many sports people who even continue to do their sports at professional level, even after 50-years of age. 

Dear young guns, keep in mind that rugby is to enjoy! You get little time to enjoy your sporting life to the optimum level. So one day after hanging up your boots, after giving all your effort to the sport you love and then, when you turn and look back, down the memory lane, the sense of pride that is felt is just something money can’t buy. For our children and future generations the tales of our heroics will always be a cherished memory for a lifetime.

PHOTOS © Eshan Dasanayaka