The Foundation of Goodness Seenigama Sports Academy Regional Schools u15 Cricket Team returned to Sri Lanka as champions last week, holding high the KAF International Youth Cricket Tournament Cup in their debut international tour.

The 3rd KAF International Cricket Tournament 2009 was held in Malaysia this November. Last year Foundation of Goodness trustee Muttiah Muralitharan was invited to attend as Chief Guest. At the same time Sri Lanka born Australian David Cruse, an ardent supporter of the Foundation of Goodness sponsored two tsunami affected school cricketers, Seeniama’s Pulina Tharanga from Devananda College, Ambalangoda and the Royalist, Anjana Kudahetty both of whom had previously represented Sri Lanka in the u15 National Team, to attend the tournament. David had always thought of the Seenigama Sports Academy team participating at this event.

Traditional Religious Blessings Prior to Departure

Thanks to the hard work, commitment and compassion of many involved, spearheaded by David, this dream came true for 12 young boys from 8 schools in the Seenigama region. Chosen as the best players from the FoG Seenigama Sports Academy’s monthly cricket coaching camp, this was a wonderful and daunting opportunity for the boys who have been benefiting from the beautiful facilities built in two local schools by Surrey County Cricket Club and Marylebone Cricket Club. These grounds were built soon after the tsunami in 2004, transforming a damp marsh in Seenigama Sri Wimala Buddhi MV and a gravel ground in Sri Sumangala College, Hikkaduwa, into two of the best school-level cricket facilities outside Colombo. Since then, both Surrey County Cricket Club and MCC, as well as the Australian Government's Sports Outreach Program have continued to provide support for cricket development, in terms of maintenance, coaching costs and other support to ensure that children from the villages have the chance to excel in a sport that is all too often dominated by their urban affluent peers.

Team Photo at the Royal Selangor Club Grounds KL

The Sri Sumangala ground, which includes Indoor Nets incorporated into the Pavilion, the first of its kind, as well as a beautiful astro-turf wicket, provides the ideal space for monthly specialist cricket coaching camps. The Royal Lancers 9-11 and the Panter family, members of MCC, came to Sri Lanka to help in the rebuilding efforts after the tsunami. Facilitated by Jayantissa Ratwatte and the other MCC Sri Lankan Local Trustees Vijaya Malasekera, Ajith Dias and Mano Ponniah, they joined forces with the Foundation of Goodness and identified this initiative as a long-term investment into the development of the area and the future prospects of village children.  Without just giving a grant for sports development, they decided to do monthly coaching, similar to what is available in the Colombo schools. Starting in 2007 at the Sri Sumangala MCC ground, specialist Coaches Hemantha Devapriya and Susantha Karunaratne conduct camps for the best cricketers between the age groups from 11 to 19 and their coaches from, 10 schools in and around the Seenigama area.

Money for the tour was raised thanks to part sponsorship from David Cruse, a long term supporter of the Foundation of Goodness. Sri Lanka cricketers and Foundation of Goodness Trustees Muttiah Muraltharan and Kumar Sangakkara donated signed memorabilia, which was sold in Australia. Well-wishers Ajith Dias and Dillon Peiris also generously joined the effort to make this trip happen.

Team Warm-up

The Foundation of Goodness provided the boys with everything they needed to be able to hold their heads high amongst the 22 cricket teams from five other countries including India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia. Tour bags, match and practise kits, cricket boots, caps, cricket equipment, air tickets and visas were provided and many commented that the team looked as smart as the Sri Lanka Cricket team itself. One boy was even sponsored for his passport to ensure that no-one was left out of this once-in-a lifetime opportunity.

For the twelve boys this was their first time on a plane, the first time in a hotel; for some it was even their first time to Colombo. The chance to compete internationally was truly a momentous opportunity for them.

Strategic team meeting

Accompanying the team were Seenigama Sports Academy cricket Head Coach Anjula Mendis, Cricket Coordinator, Amal  De Silva and the Sri Sumangala Coach/ Master in Charge, Mr. Ranjan Nanayakkara.  Mr. Anura De Silva, FoG Director of Sports, former Ananda College cricketer, former Manager of Premadasa International Cricket Stadium and Basnahiri North Province Cricket, oversaw the entire project.

The benefits of this tour for the children are long-lasting and will manifest themselves in many ways. Increased confidence, communication skills and team work, flexibility, maturity of character can already be seen in the demeanour of the boys. Some children have even received sponsorship from Australian followers who saw them play so well and have come forward to help them develop their skills without hindrance.

Toss Before a Game

The Foundation of Goodness team also won the Bowl-out championship, winning by 2 to 1 in all three matches against Max Sports-India, Howzat Cricket Singapore and European Standard School, Bangladesh to become champions.

Special awards went to Chamindu Kalana from Madampagama Central College, Ambalangoda, who won the Man of the Final award, and Akila Udesh, also from Madampagama Central College, who won the Best Wicket Keeper of the Tournament award in this Super8 Cricket Series.

Team Photo Prior to the Quarter Final

The Organising Committee gave a special donation for the benefit of the champions and Mr. Shaktha Amaratunga, another ardent supporter of FoG living in Malaysia, also gave a donation to the champs.

Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and getting to know young people from all over the world. The FoG Team members conducted themselves with great professionalism, and played like stars. Lots of planning and strategy went into every match, to rival the national squad! And not every match came easily, although the team won every match except one against European Standard School, Bangladesh in the second round. FoG played a total of 13 matches, won 10, lost 1, with 2 games cancelled due to rain.

Team Photo with Mr Bandula Warnapura
Sri Lanka’s First Test Captain, Manager Cricket Development Asian Cricket Council

Having finished as group leaders in Round 1 and second in the group in Round 2, the pressure was huge for the team as they came out to field in the Quarter Final against Kajang High School, Malaysia. However FoG won by 7 wickets. In the semi-finals, against Victoria Institution, Malaysia,  FoG won the toss and chose to bat. After losing 3 wickets in the first 2 overs, everyone thought surely this game was lost, but somehow, with great concentration and determination FoG managed to win by 13 runs. The Final was a time of great tension, especially amongst the team managers and supporters, while the boys tried to focus on the game in hand. However, against all expectations, they managed to beat Penang Free School- the favourites of the Tournament and winners of the previous two years, also from Malaysia- by 7 runs.

Team with FOG Founder Kushil Gunasekera, holding aloft the “CHAMPIONS CUP”

Kushil, Founder and Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness, says “What a fascinating opportunity for the rural youth to harness and display their talent. By being trained in facilities of this calibre provided by MCC and Surrey County Cricket Club and by creating this kind of platform so that the Royal Lancers could take it to the next level and receive this kind of exposure, look what the villagers can aspire to achieve! This experience will give them confidence, as they looked rather timid when they arrived but were soon brimming with confidence and enthusiasm and this whole experience will do them a world of good. These young cricketers are used to training under difficult circumstances and in the rural context it is a fantastic tribute to all those who collaborated and contributed. It is all about empowering rural communities.”

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character”
T. Alan Armstrong

2009.11.23