Soori and Gayan to miss out Kandy opener

Defending League and Clifford Cup champions Kandy Sports Club will be down in Colombo when they lock horns with Sri Lanka Air Force at Ratmalana on 10 November. Kandy SC will be led by former Science College player Richard Dharmapala.

Kandy started their winning ways back in 1994 and was unstoppable over the last two decades. They have some outstanding players in their outfit, such as Dhanushka Ranjan, Roshan Weeraratne, Lavanga Perera, Buwanka Udangamuwa, Thilina Wijesinghe, Shehan Pathirana, Danushka Dyan, Yakoob Ali, and Imad Riyal.

They will miss Srinarth Sooriyabandara and Gayan Weeraratne, who are both nursing with injuries. Former UAE player Imad Riyal will make his club debut for Kandy SC at this encounter and is likely to play as the scrum-half in the latter half of the game. Kandy is coached by Sean Wijesinghe with Fazil Marija assisting him.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force, a determined outfit, will be all out to give a good account of themselves at this encounter at home.  They humbled Kandy SC two years ago at the same venue when Kandy underestimated them. Gayanatha Iddamalgoda, Nuwan Perera, Ramdas Ramesh, Jeshan Seelagama and Chartih Seneviratne will be the players to watch out for in the home camp. Air Force is coached by Nihal Viper (Jr.) Gunaratne.

Referee – Dinka Peiris. (SJ)