By L. D. Chandrasiri - Matale Sports Corr
The Ritzbury sponsored ‘Thomian Sevens’ 2014 seven-a-side hockey tournament for invitation schools will be held at Edward Park in Matale on Saturday September 27 commencing at 7.30 a.m
Twenty under 19 boys teams representing leading hockey playing schools in the island will vie for honours in this inaugural tournament conducted by Matale Thomians Hockey Association with Ritzbury a product from B.L. Foods International (Pvt) as the main sponsor.
The tournament will be worked off on a league cum knock-out format basic and the teams in the fray are Royal, Wesley, Ananda, D.S.Senanayake and St Thomas’ Mount Lavinia from Colombo.
Trinity, Dharmaraja, Kingswood and St Sylvester’s from Kandy, St Thomas, Vijaya, Christ Church and Zahira from Matale, Maris Stella Negombo, Bandaranayake M.V. from Gampaha, Joseph Vas from Wennappuwa, Dharmaduta College, Badulla, Jaffna Central from Jaffna and St Aloysius, Galle.According to the Secretary of Matale Old Thomians Hockey Association Eric Hulangamuwa the winner will receive  A.J. Wijesinghe Memorial Challenge Trophy presented by the sponsors in memory of late A.J. Wijesinghe, Principal St Thomas Matale (1965 – 1985) and the runners-up is entitled to receive A.P.B. Harasgama Memorial Trophy presented in memory of  late A.P.B. Harasgama former President SLHF while C.K. Hulangamuwa Memorial Trophy in memory of late Squadron Leader C.K. Hulangamuwa (National and International player )will be awarded to the second runner-up team  apart from that the best player of the tournament will receive ‘Asian hockey star Ranjith Wijekoon Challenge Trophy. In addition certificates will be awarded to all participating teams.
The tournament is due to commence with the opening ceremony that is scheduled for 7 a.m. at Edward Park with Rohana Disanayake Deputy Minister of Transport and President of Matale Hockey Association as the chief guest and Major of Matale M. Helmy Careem, Principal of St Thomas Matale Col. Dampiya Wanasinghe and P. Vasukeran, President of Matale Old Thomions Hockey Association as guests of honour.
Nandana Wickramage – Group Director and Head of Marketing and Sales (CBL Foods International Pvt Ltd) will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony with Nilupul De Silva – Marketing Manager (CBL Foods Int), Nalin Jayasuriya Group Activation Manager, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd and Panchamaya Ratnayake Assistant Promotion Manager (CBL Foods Int) as guests of honour.